The Hindu
Mangalore, Sep 29: With bad roads of Dakshina Kannada causing an additional burden of Rs 8 lac a month on the Mangalore division of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, it is seriously thinking of withdrawing its Volvo buses.
People prefer Volvo buses for a less bumpy journey. The general view is that KSRTC’s Volvo buses are well maintained. Most of its Volvo buses are new.
Legislators informed
Senior Divisional Controller P B Karumbaiah told The Hindu that legislators of the region, MPs, and the top authorities of the KSRTC had been informed of the worsening road situation in the district.
He said Volvo buses had low floors, and bad roads were damaging their engine guards, anti-roll bars (that prevent tilting of vehicles) and silencers while negotiating deep potholes along the Shiradi Ghat on Mangalore-Bangalore Road and the Sampaje Ghat on Mangalore-Mysore Road. Besides, front glasses (Rs 50,000 a piece) and side-glasses (Rs 5,000 each) were developing cracks frequently because of the sudden jerks and continuous vibrations.
Karumbaiah said the division was forced to bear extra burden for no fault of its. Senior officials had taken up the matter with the Public Works Department (PWD).
A final decision on withdrawing Volvo services would be taken based on how the PWD reacted. Unless urgent repairs were undertaken, the KSRTC would be unable to continue Volvo bus services, he said.