NWKRTC to launch 'Busnalli Charche' next month

After taking up initiatives like 'bus day' to promote public transport and 'Namma Bus Namma Nildana' to create awareness about cleanliness, the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) is now gearing up to launch another unique programme titled 'Busnalli Charche' in which people's representatives and officials would hear the grievances of common people, on moving buses.

The NWKRTC is already conducting 'bus day' on the 20th day of every month and 'Namma Bus Namma Nildana' programme on the second day of every month. On Wednesday, it also launched interaction with women and senior citizens, which would be held on the 29th day of every month. Objectives of all these programmes is to encourage more people to use public transport, maintain cleanliness in buses and bus stands, to understand the problems of passengers, and to improve the quality of bus service.

'Busnalli Charche' to be launched in the month of December will be the latest in the list of series of innovative programmes being initiated by the NWKRTC. Under this, people's representatives and officials would travel in buses on different routes, to understand and solve the problems of common people.

"Common people like daily wage workers cannot afford losing their one day earning to meet people's representatives of officials, yo get their problems solved. They use NWKRTC buses to reach their work place and back. If authorities concerned travel in the same bus, people can easily submit their grievances to them," said NWKRTC Chairman Sadanand Danganavar.

District In-charge Minister Vinay Kulkarni, MLA Prasad Abbayya, Hubballi-Dharwad Mayor D K Chavan, and Zilla Panchayat President Chaitra Shirur have already agreed to travel in bus, while suitable routes for them would be identified. Other people's representatives, and officials like deputy commissioner and tahsildar would also be requested to participate in 'Busnalli Charche', he noted.

Dates and routes of 'Busnalli Charche' with people's representatives and officials would be publicised properly, and respective buses would also have banners, he added.

Interaction begins

During the interaction with senior citizens and women at his office here throughout the day on Wednesday, Mr Danganavar received grievances and suggestions.

Not to burden passengers with toll fee on buses between Challageri and Harihar, stoppage for buses at Court Circle in Hubballi, change of timing and increase in frequency of buses between Hubballi and Karnatak Uiversity Dharwad, running one more bus from Hubballi to Alagawadi, introducing Halakusugal-Alagawadi-Savadatti bus service, and running buses from Hubballi railway station to Yallammanagudda on special occasions were some of the suggestions received.

Receiving complaints related to conductors not behaving well with senior citizens, and bus drivers not stopping buses for disabled persons, Mr Danganavar stated that strict action would be taken if the bus number and ticket is given. "For misbehaving with passengers, warning, notice and penalty are being used, and the number of such incidents has come down," he said.

Interaction with senior citizens and women not only helps to get their grievances redressed, but also helps the NWKRTC to improve its service. In the NWKRTC divisions also, divisional controller and divisional traffic officers have been asked to hold this monthly programme, Mr Danganavar added.