Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (HB)
Udupi, February 22: Udupi District Regional Transport Authority (RTA) held its third meeting on Saturday February 21 at Atal Vajipayee Stadium, Rajathadri Manipal.
DC Vishal speaking on the occasion said that nearly 140 cases out of 250 petitions had been disposed in the previous meeting. 6o cases were new with the priority on joint root survey, 9 cases had been adjourned by the court, 23 cases were based on legal issues, 27 had variations, 1 was a renewal application, 7 applications had been withdrawn out of a total of 60.
He further added that, between 2012 and 2015 the diesel rate has been almost the same. Consumer price index inflation has been a factor ie from 10%-15%. Since the last 2 years and 3 months the deflation rate was only 6.5%.
Senior advocate Benedict Noronha raised his voice against unscientific road humps and rash driving, harsh horns of buses especially around the hospital campus, temple, road crossing instruction boards are missing, inappropriate utilization of bus stops. Moreover he stressed on having standard bus stops for city buses.
Extra ticket fare charged by the Udupi-Karkala bus instead of the actual bus fare was put forth by a person at the meeting. Thought the actual fare is 18-20 rupees, the conductors charged 20-22 rupees per seat.
Canara Bus Association voluntarily agreed to reduce the bus fare hike without curbing the interests of the common man or the bus operators and owners. He urged to enforce the bus fare as per the Dakshina Kannada RTA, which was ordered by the court.
In 2012 nearly 10-20% of the consumer price index had been changed from Udupi to Mangaluru. There are 2 challenges, legal and others. He added that transparency is very important in the administration and received a written statement from the official of the Canara Bus Association.
The RTA meeting held to address public grievances with the DC was not expectedly as good, as public participation was too less for several reasons. Only bus owners, union leaders and other legal advisors were present.
The people of the district have many difficulties to solve, but show less interest towards the solution. Because of delay in implementation, and lack of funds, the middleman faces problems. In addition many autorikshaws have no driving license, proper ID cards and unnecessary fine collection and so on
According to Nithyananda Olakadu, president of Udupi zilla nagarika vedike alleged that though his committee was registered, the RTA did not send any intimation about a public meeting. He is one of the active members for safeguarding human interests.
He said, “I just failed to get the information. I have no fear in revealing the truth, but my fight against bus fare hike will continue till it wins.”
Regarding poor public participation he said, “Due to lack of awareness and people's fear of questioning authority, people just live with heaps of problems.”
Udupi SP Annamalai, transport officer Arun Kumar Singh and other departmental officers, bus owners and public were present on the occasion.