Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has approved an additional financial aid of Rs 93.72 crore for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Finance Minister K N Balagopal announced on Saturday.

“Of the total amount, Rs 73.72 crore has been earmarked for pension disbursement, while Rs 20 crore has been allocated for other operational requirements,” the Minister said.

With this latest sanction, total government support for KSRTC in the current financial year has reached Rs 1,201.56 crore, comprising Rs 731.56 crore for pension payments and Rs 470 crore as special assistance, Balagopal explained.

“The state budget for this financial year had provided Rs 900 crore for the transport corporation. An additional Rs 301.56 crore has already been released over and above the budgetary allocation,” he added.

During the second Pinarayi Vijayan government, KSRTC has received a total of Rs 8,027.72 crore in state aid. Under the first Vijayan-led administration, the corporation had been granted Rs 5,002 crore. Together, the LDF governments have extended Rs 13,029.72 crore in support to KSRTC.

In contrast, the previous UDF government had provided Rs 1,467 crore to the corporation during its five-year tenure, Balagopal noted.

 PTI