Interstate bus services between Karnataka and Maharashtra resume partially

Belagavi: Bus services were resumed partially by both the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) on some of the routes in Kolhapur and Sangli districts, and Belagavi on Wednesday. 

Following the attacks on their busses, the Belagavi and Chikkodi divisions suffered losses since last Saturday due to buses plying only upto the state borders and passengers being reluctant to board them over fears of further attacks.

NWKRTC conductor Mahadev Hukkeri was assaulted on the CBT-Sulebhavi route at Balekundri village in Belagavi taluk on Friday last by supporters of a boy and girl commuter for him asking them to talk in Kannada had blown up across the state.

Last friday, NWKRTC conductor Mahadev Hukkeri was assaulted on the CBT-Sulebhavi route at Balekundri village in Belagavi taluk after he asked a couple of commuters to speak in Kannada.

Further, an MSRTC bus was blackened and its driver's face too was blackened by Kannada activists at Chitradurga. It had led in counter retaliation in Maharashtra with KSRTC drivers and conductors facing the wrath of Shiva Sena (UBT) and pro-Maharashtra organisations in the neighbouring state. 

As a precautionary measure, both KSRTC and MSRTC had stopped interstate bus services since Saturday and buses of both states plied up to state borders on both sides.

As the situation normalised, commuters expressed their demand to commence the services, since private vehicles to moved towards different destinations that were out of bounds for many. Adding to it was the inconveiniance of having to walk large distances to catch the buses on either side of the border with both KSRTC and MSRTC plying only within their respective state borders. 

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan and Superintendent of Police Dr Bheemashankar Guled held talks with their counterparts from Kolhapur in a virtual meeting regarding the commencement of bus services between both states and measures needed for their safety. 

The commencement of bus services on some routes by both KSRTC and MSRTC came with a sigh of relief for the commuters travelling between both states. 

NWKRTC, Chikkodi Divisional Controller V M Shashidhar said "MSRTC buses were coming to the district and our buses were going to Maharashtra. We shall commence services on routes as per schedule in a phased manner. The division has suffered losses of about Rs 10 lakh due to the temporary stoppage of services."

NWKRTC, Belagavi Divisional Controller Rajesh Huddar said "Bus services towards Miraj, Kolhapur and other destinations have commenced since morning. After the situation becomes normal, services on other routes will resume. As buses were partially plying up to state’s borders its difficult to access losses."