Shiradi Ghat closure: KSRTC loses Rs 4.71 cr in 6 months

 The KSRTC has suffered a loss of Rs 4.71 crore in the last six months, ever since the Shiradi Ghat section was closed for repair.

From January 2, the buses are travelling on alternative routes through Madikeri and Chikkamagaluru. According to officials, KSRTC is suffering a revenue loss of Rs 2.65 lakh every day as 271 schedules are affected due to the closure of the Ghat section. Consequently, the buses have to travel on alternative routes.

Officials said that close to 1,000 buses ply from either end and the buses are running anywhere between 30 and 45 km extra, at Rs 35-40 per km. Roughly for each bus, an additional Rs 1,000-1,500 is being spent.

The KSTRC officials said that they had to bear the additional expenses since transferring the cost of plying additional km to commuters was not an option. Though it was earlier announced that the work on the national highway would be completed by June, rain played spoilsport and the work has got delayed. Officials said that the Ghat section receives rainfall till September and the work would resume only later. The stretch can be reopened for traffic only after that.

 KSRTC chief traffic manager Sangappa said, “We have not reduced the schedules, so that commuters are not inconvenienced. “However, the buses are being deviated to other routes which add a few kilometres more to the journey. The three additional routes being used are via Mysuru, Shivamogga, Charmadi Ghat.”

KSRTC MD Rajender Ka-taria said, “The work had to be stopped due to rain. Till the work is over, the corporation will absorb all the losses and bear the additional cost of operations as well.”

However, the KSRTC officials said that though the burden of additional kilometres could have easily been passed on to the passengers, the corporation resisted from doing so, as already a huge number of passengers prefer to travel by private buses on that route. Increasing the fares of the State-run buses would have further driven the passengers
to private services as they have competitive day-to-day fares.