Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi

Udupi, Jul 14: A co-operative society and banking system set up by the Bus Owners’ Association was formally inaugurated in Town Hall on Saturday July 13.

The programme was inaugurated by Vinay Kumar Sorake who said that the Congress government has come up with the Land Transport Authority to mobilize the density of the vehicles where required.

“There are various needs of the bus owners and at times they have to borrow money from people they know or from banks. Considering this problem, Udupi city bus owners started a multi-purpose co-operative society to provide them with financial aid,” he said.

“Though Abhay Chandra Jain is now known as sports and fisheries minister, he himself is a bus owner and he will definitely understand the problems of the owners. Due to him, the state government availed a grant from Rs 6 crore to 30 crore. As per the requirement and expectation of society, Udupi and Mangalore should have a better transport system. Though the road from Mangalore to Udupi is smooth, after Mulky, the road is narrow and congested roads lead to accidents. In order to avoid this, the public, bus owners, and the drivers must work together,” added Sorake.

“The government is planning a road from Hiriyadka to Shimoga through Agumbe. This route will enable a link between Shimoga and Udupi and between Shimoga and Bajpe airport. The Shiradi-Agumbe stretch should be upgraded to a national highway so that the areas in and around this can be developed. In order to avoid the misuse of the pass or coupon, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards have been implemented instead of daily pass.

RFID will be made compulsory from August 15, 2013. The private city buses will have to use electronic ticketing machines from July 14, 2013,” he further said.

Abhay Chandra Jain, minister for fisheries, youth welfare, and sports said that the stretch connecting Manipal to Bajpe airport should materialize at the earliest.