In what could certainly be good news to the people of Karimnagar, the Urban Development Ministry (UDM) of the Government of India has sanctioned 70 buses and one depot to the Karimnagar town under the transitional phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission(JNNURM).

According to sources, the Government of India will foot 80 per cent (`21.08 crore) of the project cost, while the remaining 20 per cent (`5.27 crore) of the cost will be borne by the state government . The total project cost is `26.35 crore.

Three of the 70 buses proposed to be introduced will be for local services in Karimnagar town. Presently, the local buses are being run on only two routes only.

Karimnagar town is one of the 13 towns across the country chosen by the UMD for the project. From Andhra Pradesh, the then MD of AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) AK Khan had sent proposals to the Centre for funds for the introduction of town/city bus services in 12 towns - Karimnagar, Warangal, Nellore, Kurnool, Nizamabad, Nandyal, Ramagundam, Ongole, Rajamundry, Kakinada, Eluru and Vizayanagaram. Among them, the Government of India had chosen only Karimnagar town.