Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Aug 22: Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner, A B Ibrahim, who is also the chairman of Regional Transport Authority, gave his nod for running of 35 new city buses by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM). Out of these 35 buses which will run to different points around the city, 18 have been permitted to be operated from Statebank Circle, while the rest will function from KSRTC bus stand here.
At present, the DM notification issued in 1992 has been in force in the city, as per which buses which get new permits are barred from entering Hampankatta and State Bank areas because of pressure of traffic, noise pollution, and shortage of space. This notification had been issued under Motor Vehicles Act 1988 by the then deputy commissioner.
The deputy commissioner kept the provisions of the above DM notification in abeyance through an order issued under modified rules of the said act. This order will be applicable only for NURM buses, in the interests of passengers.
As many as 35 city transport buses had been sanctioned here for KSRTC, and after pooling requests which came from the general public, routes having highest demand were identified. KSRTC had received 1,147 requests from the general public, while RTO received 1,157. Accordingly, the divisional controller of KSRTC had requested the RTA to exempt NURM buses from the ambit of DM notification, and permit them to be operated from State Bank area as passengers wanted buses from there.
NURM buses have low floors, which help senior citizens, children, women and sick people to board and alight. These buses announce names of places as they near the spots, digital boards will be flashed, and names of the place will be displayed at each bus stand. These buses come with minimum pollution, ITS system, 2x2 seating arrangement, as well as automatic doors. The people also expect to get rid of noisy film songs, shrill horns and shouts of bus staff when travelling by NURM buses. NURM buses also offer free travel for students up to seventh standard, issue bus passes at the annual price of Rs 400 for girls studying between 8th and tenth standards, Rs 600 for male students, annual pass at Rs 900 for college students, 25 percent concession for senior citizens, free travel for differently abled passengers up to 100 km, and free passes for blind, endo affected patients and freedom fighters.
Ibrahim said that with the introduction of NURM bses in the city, city transport will witness general improvement with the infusion of modern system of transport. He also felt that the passengers will stand to benefit and the transport system as a whole will get upgraded.