Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Jul 14: The number of passengers using KSRTC buses in the coastal region is increased to 55000 on a daily basis after the announcement of the Shakti scheme.

In Mangaluru depot, the number of daily passengers increased to 25000 while in Puttur depot it went up to 30000. The scheme completed one month on July 11.

According to a conductor of KSRTC bus, very few people of coastal region used to board KSRTC buses as most of them prefer private service. Even the buses to north Karnataka from Udupi and Mangaluru were half empty. However, after the announcement of Shakti scheme, the buses are crowded.

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Jayakara Shetty, divisional controller of Puttur depot said, “Around 90000 women are travelling in buses belonging to our depot. Earlier, we were not keeping record of women passengers. But it is true that the number of women passengers is increased considerably.”

Rajesh Shetty, divisional controller of Mangaluru depot of KSRTC said “After Shakti scheme was introduced around 68000 women are travelling in buses of our depot. Earlier 1.20 lac people used to travel. After the Shakti scheme is introduced, the number has gone up by 25000.”

After the introduction of Shakti scheme, the number of women devotees arriving at important pilgrimage centres of Dharmasthala and Subramanya is increased by leaps and bounds.

Jayakara Shetty said, “The number of devotees visiting pilgrimage places is quite high during weekends. As there is considerable increase in the number of devotees visiting Dharmasthala and Subramanya temple, we had to schedule additional services during weekend.”