Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 21: It has been about two years since the city buses plying on the State Bank - Nanthoor, Bikkarnakatte, Maroli, Padil and Adyar route. After the lockdown was lifted, buses began to move on other routes but not here. This has created problems for the students and senior citizens.

For about 40 years, five buses were being operated here of route numbers 30, 30 B and 37. But beginning in 2019, the buses stopped their trips one by one and two buses remained at the end. After the lockdown, these buses also stopped plying.

The people are irked with the bus owners who have not been running their buses despite holding permits. They have demanded these buses to be pressed into service immediately. They have urged the district administration to ensure that KSRTC buses between Padil and State Bank stop by this route.

The aggrieved say that there are buses running to Bikkarnakatte, Kaikamba flyover, Pilikula, Neermarga,Vamanjoor etc., on National Highway 75. People going to Maroli, Kombar and Padil have to get down at Bikkarnakatte, walk a distance and hire auto rickshaws. On the other hand, they have to come to Padil via Pumpwell and go to areas around Maroli by auto rickshaws or by foot.

Jayasheela Adyantaya, president of Dakshina Kannada City Bus Owners Association, said that the bus owners do not appear to be in a position to run buses on this route at present. The district administration has asked the buses to surrender their permits to KSRTC if they are unable to operate on this route. He said the decision of the district administration may hold good in this issue.