Private bus fare likely to go up in Dakshina Kannada soon

The decision will be taken after considering opinions: DC

 The private bus fare is most likely to go up in the district soon. The decision would be announced at the next Regional Transport Authority meeting, the date for which has not been announced yet.

Chairing the RTA meeting at the DC’s office on Saturday,  Deputy Commissioner and RTA Chairman  Dr N S Channappa Gowda, who heard the versions of the private bus operators and the members of general public, said that the decision on increasing the private bus fare will be taken based on the opinions expressed by both the sides.

The private operators have demanded for  thehike the fare, in the wake of increase in prices of petroleum products.

Some of the associations, representing the public, opposed the 15 per cent hike demanded by the bus operators.

Speaking on be half of the public, Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike President Hanumanth Kamath said that though 15 per cent hike does create an illusion that it is a small hike, the reality is different.

“When the 15 per cent hike is converted into rupees, it will lead to an increase of at least Rs three per ticket for every stage. Hence, the extra bucks that one has to spend for traveling would be considerably high,” he argued. He also questioned that if the KSRTC buses could earn profit, by maintaining the same fare. Why private operators are demanding upward fare revision? 

Another citizen Sadananda said that if the minimum fare of government buses is Rs 4, it is already Rs 5 in the private buses.

“The over crowded private buses carry the load  three times more than the actual capacity are definitely earning profit. There was no need for them to seek fare revision,” he said.

Former Panchayat member Ismail from Someshwar accused the private bus operators of providing wrong information to the RTA. The price for spare parts have not gone up. Though tyres are costing more, , it could be managed, as some of the spare parts have become cheaper, he said.

Govt city buses

The members of public demanded the RTA to introduce more number of KSRTC city buses on new routes and not to cancel the already introduced buses on seven routes on temporary permit. Hanumanth Kamath urged the RTA not to cancel the permits of KSRTC city buses on Mangalore-Mudipu route, budging to the private bus lobby.

Though the private bus owners have approached the High Court and the issue is now before the RTA, the RTA should take a decision in favour of the public by not cancelling or revising the permit, he said.

The DC refused to comment as the matter is sub judice.

DK District Association for Physically Challenged President Dinesh Shetty said that 50 per cent concession should be given for the physically challenged in private buses.