The Kerala Government has sanctioned additional financial assistance of Rs 937.2 million to Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), state finance minister K N Balagopal said. Of the total, Rs 737.2 million has been earmarked for pension disbursement, while Rs 200 million will meet other operational requirements.

With the latest release, total government assistance to KSRTC in the current financial year has reached Rs 12.0156 billion, comprising Rs 7.3156 billion towards pensions and Rs 4.7 billion as special assistance. The state budget had originally provided Rs 9 billion for the corporation, with an additional Rs 3.0156 billion released over and above the budgetary allocation.

Mr Balagopal said that during the second tenure of the Pinarayi Vijayan government, KSRTC has received Rs 80.2772 billion in support so far, compared with Rs 50.02 billion during the first tenure. Taken together, the two Left Democratic Front administrations have extended total assistance of Rs 130.2972 billion to the transport corporation.

In contrast, the previous United Democratic Front government provided Rs 14.67 billion to KSRTC over a five-year period, the minister added.