Private buses may be restricted to margins of city

The idea of restricting private buses to the margins of the city has again taken root with a proposal sent by the traffic police a year ago coming under serious consideration of the Transport Department.

Sources said the department has held a series of meetings and is likely to take a decision very soon. Private buses from different parts of the state and from outside enter the city from six main roads, adding to traffic congestion.

The department also has the task of finding alternative terminal points for such buses.

"Every day, about 8,000 private buses enter the city and the equal number exit the city. On special occasions and festival days, their number goes up. This has led to heavy congestion on many roads, inconveniencing the local traffic.

"Based on these observations, we had sent a proposal to the Transport department," said Additional Police Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hithendra.
The officer said the Transport department officials have now expressed interest in the proposal.

"The transport minister is interested in implementing the proposal. So, we are discussing the steps needed to be taken before we restrict the traffic," he added.

Hithendra also said that private buses have become a nuisance due to parking rule violations by the drivers.

"We have registered over 10,000 complaints against private buses for parking rule violations. But their drivers have not learnt lessons. We receive regular complaints from the public on the issue. We had explained all the issues in our proposal," he said.

An official in the Transport department said they were planning to provide parking facility near Basaveshwara Bus Station in Peenya for buses coming from Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Bidar, Vijayapura, Davangere, Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Haveri districts as well as Goa and Maharashtra.

"Similar facilities need to be created at Electronics City for buses from Tamil Nadu, at Kengeri for buses from Mysuru, Mandya and Kerala and at Baiyappanahalli or
K R Puram for buses coming from Tirupati and Kolar. We have sought expert opinion in this regard," he said.