120 bus services to Maharashtra stopped: NWKRTC MD Krishna Bajpai

North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) Managing Director Krishna Bajpai said the corporation has stopped 120 schedules of bus services between Karnataka and Maharashtra owing to an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the neighbouring state.

Speaking to media persons here on Monday, he said the state government has decided to keep a strict vigil on the movement of passengers between the two states, as Maharashtra has not made RT-PCR test mandatory for travelling. “With the number of cases rising in Maharashtra, it was decided to reduce the number of bus schedule from Belagavi, Chikkodi, Gadag, Vijaypur, Haveri, Bagalkot and Dharwad districts to Maharashtra,” he said and added that another reason for reducing the schedule is the lesser number of passengers movement.

“Not even 60% of the pre-Covid-19 level passengers are travelling between the two states,” he said and added that out of the 500 odd buses that ply between the two states every day, NWKRTC has decided to stop 120 schedules till Holi festival. Traffic controllers of each division will take a call on the number of buses that can ply to neighbouring state. He said they will also keep in mind the recent trouble that was created by the Shiva Sena members at the Belagavi border.

No fare hike

Bajpai also clarified that as of now, there will be no hike the fare price of buses. “With the state government deciding to lift the excess burden of fuel price hike, the corporation has decided against fare hike,” he said and added that in last few months the prices of fuel has gone up by nearly 15% and there was at least need to increase the prices of ticket by 8%.

Compared to pre-Covid-19 levels, the NWKRTC is witnessing only 60% of the passenger load. Earlier, every day the 4,300 buses used to commute nearly 17 lakh km, carrying 22 lakh passengers. However, now every day the corporation is carrying only 14 lakh passengers and commuting nearly 13 lakh km.