Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Oct 22: KSRTC will run electric buses to international airport in the city from Kasaragod, Bhatkal and Manipal. Earlier, though Volvo bus was introduced, it was withdrawn due to poor patronage.

In total, four electric buses will ply along these routes. There is no need for a special permit. Only registration is required. Airline companies will also share details about the electric bus timings etc on their website. KSRTC officials are in talks with airline authorities in this regard.

The Mangaluru division of KSRTC will get 45 electric buses out of which  four buses will run to the international airport. Others will be pressed into service along routes such as Dharmasthala, Udupi, Kasaragod, Kundapura and Bhatkal. EV charging points will be made available in Mangaluru, Udupi, Kundapura and Dharmasthala. Once charged, the buses can run for a distance of 200 km and a full charging takes about four hours. So this facility cannot be extended to far away places as well, according to KSRTC officials.

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In addition, Mangaluru division will also get eight Pallakki buses with new design that will run between the city and Bengaluru. But no new express buses have been sanctioned. Puttur division has got nine new buses.

A proposal has also been put forth to the higher authorities for allocating new and additional buses along 57 other routes. This requires a workforce of 198 people including drivers, conductors and technicians. If this proposal is accepted buses will run to Karkala, Moodbidri and North Karnataka districts from Mangaluru.

At present there is a shortage of 361 permanent staffers in Mangaluru division. As many as 187 staffers have been recruited on a contract basis and another 180 of them is still required. Another 40 to 50 of staff transfers is also pending.