Thejaswi U Poojary
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Dec 31: Passengers are demanding restoration of KSRTC AC bus services between Kundapura-Mangaluru which were available before the outbreak of Covid-19. They are also demanding that the services be made available at a convenient time for daily commuters or the working class.
Prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, the KSRTC ran an AC bus from Kundapura which started at 8 am that reached Mangaluru at 9.20 am. There were a total of 13 trips from Kundapura to Mangaluru at 7 am, 7.30 am, 8 am, 8.30 am, 9.15 am, 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 12.45 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm, and 7 pm. Now there are only a few trips from Kundapura to Mangaluru.
As Mangaluru is a hub, many people travel every day for purposes of work, medical, passport, railway, airport, education and many other occupations. Passengers are demanding that buses be provided at a convenient time, which will help them do their work and return in the evening, which will also help them save time and money.
Harsha S Shet, a passenger who is demanding that the KSRTC operate an AC Volvo bus service, said, “KSRTC Volvo buses from Kundapura to Mangaluru are now available at odd timings. They should be made available at convenient timings for the benefit of people of the working class so that they can travel in less time comfortably.
Before the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, buses were available at a convenient timings at 8 am from Kundapura that reached Mangaluru at around 9.20 am and the return bus service was available at around 3.30 pm from Mangaluru.”
Talking about the need for buses, he said, “There are many good hospitals in Mangaluru and a lot of people need to travel to the city. Private express buses have a number of stops, which take nearly five hours of travel time from Kundapura to Mangaluru. But, the KSRTC bus with minimum stops and lower price than the private buses take lesser travel time helping the daily commuters.
As buses are not available at convenient timings people travel by car which would cost them about Rs 3,000. There is car pooling service as well. It is possible for the government only to run AC buses at minimum fares. The bus should have AC because it is very difficult for passengers to travel for one to two hours in non-AC buses in this hot weather.”