Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 12: Stressing that nationalization of private services has never been on the agenda of the state government, minister, Krishna J Palemar, said that achieving maximum comfort and convenience of the passengers through impeccable services should be the motto of everyone involved with bus services. He was speaking after inaugurating the two-day seminar, ‘Payana – Bus Transport Management, a Furuturistic Approach’, organized by Karnataka State Bus Owners Federation in association with Manipal Institute of Management (MIM) at Ammani Ramanna Shetty Hall here on Friday February 11.

Palemar said that past experience has proved that privatization is not the panacea for all the ills plaguing the passenger transportation sector, adding that the private bus transporters in the coastal districts had made an indelible imprint in the lives of the people through their excellent services, even before the government buses registered their footmarks here. He strongly advocated for a uniform tax system for transport sector in all the states. He also stressed the need to concentrate on lessening of pollution levels by vehicles.

Rajya Sabha member and former union minister, Oscar Fernandes, who recollected that he was running a Tempo Traveller vehicle in the past, wished that a system through which the passengers would be able to get their bus tickets for any route from any corner of the world through the internet, should be implemented on the lines of air and train travel. Oscar said that when he was the KPCC president, he wanted to introduce concrete roads in Bangalore on the lines of Mumbai, but the officials were reluctant to earmark funds for concrete roads, as it does not require maintenance later. MP, D V Sadanand Gowda, who released the souvenir, reiterated the government’s commitment to protect the interests of the private sector, which has been serving the two coastal districts meritoriously since long.

Coastal Development Authority chairman, Nagaraj Shetty, released the emblem of the seminar. Shetty reminded the participants that he too is a bus operator. Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety, Bhaskar Rao, felt that the private bus operators are more worried about the issues like their buses, wheels, diesel, drivers etc., rather than laying more emphasis on how to build their businesses. He felt that this is exactly reason for the phenomenal growth of KSRTC in the recent past, as opposed to the private transport sector. Rao pointed out that the private bus operators are not effectively challenging the lower taxes charged for KSRTC buses as compared to them, and not lobbying hard for concessions by meeting the Chief Minister before the budget session. He also pointed out to the united face put up by lorry transporters through agitations.

MLAs, Abhayachandra Jain and Gopal Bhandary, local municipal president, Kiran Kumar, MIM director, Prof P Ramakrishna Chadaga, Manipal University registrar, Dr G K Prabhu, All India Bus Owners Federation vice-president, Chittaranjandas, Lorry Owners Association president, Shanmukhappa, Bhaskar Salian representing Bus Owners Association Mangalore, transport operators and others were present.

President of the Federation, K Rajavarma Ballal, welcomed. President of the Seminar Committee, Dr K V M Varambally, delivered introductory address. Bus owner from Moodbidri, Narayan P M, compered the programme.