Safe bus journey is still a mirage here...

Roof top bus travelling continues unabated in taluks

Even now people of T Narasipura, Kollegal, Bannur, Srirangapatna and surrounding places of Mysore city travel roof top of private buses due to lack of KSRTC buses. The government has banned roof top travelling and empowered police and RTO to take action against bus drivers/owners for allowing it. However, it is going on unabated in the district without any fear of law.

Mahadevappa of Kirugunda village of Nanjangud taluk  told Deccan Herald that he always travels in private buses as KSRTC does not operate its buses to his village. LIke him, there are other villagers who depend on private buses who allows people like sheep inside the buses and drive in rash and negligent manner.

No protection is ensured for travelling public. Fighting for a seat is common in these buses. Seats are not reserved for women and senior citizens in such buses. School children are not allowed inside the buses and they are asked to travel on roof tops.
Unfortunately, people are not bothered about their safety in travelling in these buses.
The private bus operators do not take responsibility in case any mishap occurs. But,
people have no option except travelling in these buses. Either police or RTO don’t take action against such errant drivers/owners. “The police, RTO officials and people’s representatives wake up from deep slumber only in any mishap takes place. Memoranda submitted to the district administration to direct KSRTC authorities to run sufficient number of buses to all the villages, have not yielded any results. It is learnt that private bus operators lobby is working behind scenes against operation of KSRTC buses to all the villages.

Divisional Traffic Officer (DTO) Mahadevaiah said the KSRTC did not have provision to operate buses on non -nationalised routes such as T Narasipur, Kollegal, Chamarajanagar, Srirangapatna and surrounding villages of Mysore city. They can run buses only on nationalised routes. Infact, the KSRTC Rural Division of Mysore had applied for permission for 25 routes in Kollegal, T Narasipur, interior villages and hobli quarters on non-nationalised route. But so far, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) is yet to give permission. The proposal has been pending for many years.

Regional Transport Officer Siddappa Kallera said the ultimate power lies with deputy commissioner of transport.