Complaints galore at KSRTC meeting

From a demand to introduce JnNURM KSRTC buses on various routes to behaviour of bus conductors, complaints poured in at the second public contact programme organised by the Mangaluru Division of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) here on Friday.

KSRTC divisional controller Vivekanand Hegde said the stay order on 14 JnNURM buses sanctioned to Mangaluru is likely to be vacated shortly.

Nagarika Samithi Addur President Nooyi Balakrishna Rao urged the authorities to extend JnNURM bus to Mulki from Mukka. A KSRTC bus sh-ould be introduced to Bengaluru from Mulki-Kateel-Polali-BC Road route, he urged. Hegde said KSRTC will apply for extending the permit to Mulki.

Sachindra from Kudpu said that there is a need to publicise the timings of JnNURM buses. The KSRTC should introduce a service from Hassan Railway Station to Mangaluru taking note of the timings of the newly-introduced Hassan-Bengaluru train.

When Jacob M P from Indabettu said the timings of Kolli-Dharmasthala-Ujire bus should be changed to suit schoolchildren and sough an additional bus to Kolli, Puttur divisional controller Venkatesh said the bus timings will be changed to suit the schoolchildren from June and an additional bus will also be deployed.

 Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike president Hanumantha Kamath said people have no knowledge on the newly-introduced KSRTC bus to Bhatkal.  The KSRTC should impress upon the authorities to check contract carriage buses that are violating the DM notification of 1993 by entering the State Bank area. Hegde said the KSRTC has even filed a complaint to the Lokayukta against contract carriage buses. A case has also been filed in the court as well.

G K Bhat from Pumpwell rued at the KSRTC for increasing the fare following the toll plaza at Talapady. The JnNURM buses should ply even after 7 pm to various destinations, he demanded.

Uma Hegde, a resident, demanded introduction of KSRTC buses to Landlinks. Hegde said a bus was sanctioned to Landli-nks under JnNURM. However, it was put on hold as the private operators have brought stay from the court. When Harish, another resident, demanded introduction of KSRTC bus to Shivamogga via Moodbidri-Karkala-Mala-Kerekatte-Koppa-Narasimharajapura-Shivamogga, divisional traffic officer Jaishanth said KSRTC has received permits to operate bus on the route recently.