Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 18: Government buses being operated under the ambitious Jawarhal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme of the central government under which various advantages and facilities have been extended to the commuters, had started running in the city from September 7, after lot of delay because of hiccups in the initial stages and opposition from private transporters.

Private City Bus Owners Association here has now approached the state high court (HC) in a bid to scuttle this scheme. The petition is expected to come up before the high court during the next week. If the HC issues stay order against operation of JNNURM buses as is being hoped by the private operators, these government buses will remain off the roads. If the stay is not granted, they will continue to be operational.

The service was flaggef off on September 7, 2016

The association, of which Kuilady Suresh Nayak is the president, argues that the minimum fare for the said government city buses has been pegged at Rs 5 whereas for the private city buses this has been fixed at Rs 7. As such, the association has demanded for fixing the same fare for government buses also. KSRTC officials argue that hiking the fare will create problem of change because of shortage of coins, and the buses under the scheme are not run for profit. They say that JNNURM buses are meant to serve the people, and KSRTC bus fares are fixed by the state ministry unlike that of the private operators which are fixed by the respective regional transport authorities.

At present, 12 government buses are being run under the said scheme here. In the past, when deputy commissioner of the district then, Dr Vishal R, had announced the decision to issue 30 permits under the scheme, private operators had tried to block the initiative by taking shelter under an earlier order issued by the district magistrate against issuance of permits to the government buses for running city services. Although they had approached the HC then, their effort to thwart the government city buses had failed.

In the meanwhile, general secretary of district Nagarika Samiti, Nityananda Olakadu, has alleged that delaying tactics are being employed by the concerned in issuing the remaining 18 permits to government buses, and that the time table fixed for buses under JNNURM scheme appears like having been drawn in the interests of the private operators than the general public.

At present, JNNURM buses are running under loss. Because of improper time table, student passes and monthly passes are not in high demand, as commuters say sufficient buses are not available at the time of going to work and coming back to home. Therefore, the people continue to be heavily dependent on private service now.

District in-charge minister, Pramod Madhwaraj, has asserted that he will ensure that efforts to block operation of JNNURM buses will not succeed. He said he would discuss the matter with KSRTC managing director and advice him to take all relevant steps to see that this service continues and expands.

Divisional controller of KSRTC at Mangaluru, Jaishant Kumar, said that a systematic conspiracy to overturn the government city bus service, which is meant to serve the people, has been hatched. He hoped that the people will not be deprived of the government bus services as a reusult of an undermine the ambitious scheme that is extremely popular.