Pic: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Sep 15: The RTO has taken steps to prevent exorbitant fare hike by private bus operators as the Ganesha Chathurthi festival is round the corner.

A separate team is formed to take on the bus owners who charge astronomical fares during the festive season. The special team will monitor the fares from September 15 to 18.

People who work in cities like Mysuru and Bengaluru go to their native places for festivities. This weekend, Gauri festival is celebrated on Sunday and Ganesh Chaturthi on Tuesday. On usual weekends, the bus fare from Bengaluru to Mangaluru is Rs 800. It has already crossed Rs 1000 now. The maximum price has crossed Rs 2800.

K T Halaswamy

Advance booking of seats has just begun for the Ganesha festival. There is a fear among public that the fares will increase by three to four folds as the festival nears.

Ramalinga Reddy, transport minister said, “Many people go to their native places on account of Ganesha festival. Private bus operators should not increase the prices. If anyone is found violating the rules, the RTO will take strict action.”

Joint transport commissioner of Shivamogga division K T Halaswamy said, “A special drive will be held from September 15 to 18 by four teams each in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chitradurga and Davanagere, two teams each in Shivamogga, Puttur and Sagar. A control room is opened in Mangaluru (0824-2220577). It will function till 11 pm from September 15 to 18. We have registered 129 cases in Mangaluru for traffic violation.”

On account of Ganesha festival, the Puttur and Mangaluru depots of KSRTC are introducing more buses. On September 15 and 16, 30 extra buses will run to Bengaluru from Mangaluru and 25 extra buses from Puttur. The officials said that they will increase the number of buses if the demand is more.