“NWKRTC Sirsi division is under heavy loss. Even then the corporation is running buses comparatively at low fares to compete with private bus operators and efforts will be made to put an end to the loss by long route buses,” said North West Karnataka State Road Transportation Corporation President Ashok Katwe.

Speaking to reporters here, he said that already instruction had been given to officials to reduce bus fare. Sirsi division had got 58 new buses, including Rajahamsa, Meghadoota and other buses, and the division would get 50 to 100 new buses soon.

More funds
Sirsi division would get Rs 1.51 crore funds, including Rs 30 lakh for asphaltation of Sirsi new bus stand, Rs 21.61 lakh for Dandeli bus depot and Rs 18.45 lakh for asphaltation, Rs 38.3 lakh for renovation of Ankola bus stand, Rs 27.5 lakh for asphaltation for Yallapur bus stand and Rs 9.77 lakh for renovation of Banavasi bus stand. The tender process was underway in this regard, he said.

Air conditioned sleeper coach buses would be introduced on Sirsi-Bangalore and Kumta- Bangalore routes. The corporation had prepared a plan to open bus depots at Siddapur, Mundgod, Joida and Haliyal, he revealed.

New schemes
The NWKRTC would introduce new systems like Avatar (anytime anywhere ticket reservation) electronic ticket machine  (ETM) and the same system had been already introduced in five depots.

The corporation would introduce courier facility within a few months. Last year the corporation suffered a loss of Rs 30 crore. The corporation had earned a profit of Rs 10.67 crore after he took charge as president, Katwe said.