India, World Bank sign agreement for efficient bus service

The Union Government and World Bank have signed a US 9.2 million dollar grant agreement for the Efficient and Sustainable City Bus Service Project.
The grant agreement was signed under World Bank-Global Environment Facility (GEF) Programme.
Key Facts

• The Efficient and Sustainable City Bus Service Project aims at improving the efficiency and attractiveness of city bus transport and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in select Indian cities.
• These select demonstration cities are Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Chandigarh, Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Mira Bhayandar municipality in the Thane district of Maharashtra.
• The project has been designed to specifically focus on identifying institutional, regulatory and fiscal constraints to operation of sustainable city bus services.
• The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) will be the implementing agency of the GEF for the project.
• The project will complement Union Government’s Bus Funding Scheme which was launched to promote public transport in cities by modernizing their bus services.
• It will introduce modern Management Information Systems and Intelligent Transport Systems for better planning and management of operations.
• It will also provide technical support to drivers and vehicles for better fuel efficiency, among others.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2016