For the development of Mangalore city in coastal Karnataka, Rs 200 crore has been promised by the Union Urban Development Ministry under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (Jnnurm). Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath reportedly assured his counterpart of Road Transport Oscar Fernandes at a meeting held in Delhi in last July, besides clearing the proposal of introducing low-floor buses in the coastal city.
As per the Union government's proposal, coastal cities of Mangalore and Udupi are set to get 65 low-floor buses for city routes by April-May 2014. The ministry of urban development has sanctioned these non-AC buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) to the KSRTC's Mangalore division.
In the 65 buses, 35 buses will run in Mangalore and 30 in Udupi. The buses with an 18-inch ground clearance will help the senior citizens to easily board the vehicle.