Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 30: Just like the bus services being run by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) between Bengaluru airport and various parts of that city, KSRTC plans to begin its services from the airport to the city. Initially, five such buses have been planned to be made operational.

It may be recalled that during his recent visit to the international airport here, state chief secretary, T M Vijay Bhaskar, had instructed KSRTC officials to operate buses from the airport to different parts of the city and the district. In this background, the KSRTC officials here have launched a survey for the same.

The KSRTC officials are holding discussions with the airport officials about the areas to which movement of passengers from the airport is more, and at what time the availability of passengers is good, and which timings would suit the people. The discussions might take a week, and a final shape to the plan might emerge by this week end.

KSRTC had introduced two buses to the airport from KSRTC bus stand here. The buses which were operated for a short period were taken off the road, citing poor collection. KSRTC already holds permit to run KSRTC Volvo buses from the airport to Bhatkal via Udupi and Manipal, but timings are yet to be fixed by the regional transport authority at Udupi. Once the authority gives the timing, two Volvo buses will begin to ply on this route. It is thought that places like Bhatkal, Manipal and Udupi can feed more passengers to the airport here because of distance factor and availability of businesspersons there.

For the present, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission might be run from the airport to Kavoor, Kankanady, State Bank, Lalbhag and Morgan Gates, as per the current estimates, as the depot here is short of Volvo buses. KSRTC is also thinking about the practicability of running buses from airport to Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal and Beltangady, it is learnt.