Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (DC/HB)
Udupi, Aug 11: “A new commercial complex has been planned in front of Mangaluru KSRTC bus stand,” said new state transport minister DC Thammanna during his visit to the city on August 10.
After inspecting the KSRTC bus stand, Thammanna said, “The new commercial complex will help those shop owners who are already running business inside the bus stand. I have directed the concerned officials to look into it,"
“The KSRTC department is planning to introduce 20 new Volvo buses (sleeper coach) in Mangaluru division,” he added.
He also visited many KSRTC buses and listened to the grievances of the passengers. He directed the officials to maintain cleanliness. He also directed to shift the department office to Kuntikana workshop.
Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat also met him and spoke about the problems of old KSRTC bus stand.
KSRTC official Deepak Kumar, Jayashanth, district youth JD(S) president Akshith Suvarna and JD(S) spokes person Sushil Noronha accompanied the minister.
Udupi visit
The minister later also visited Udupi and inspected the ongoing construction work of new KSRTC bus stand near city bus stand. Speaking about the project, he said, “It is a multi- floor project, which will have a bus stand with commercial centres in the building. A tender was called and Rs 30 crore has been sanctioned already. There will be a car parking area and bus stand facilities in the basement. And there will be commercial shops on ground floor and the first floor. There is no shortage of funds. The bus stand will have all the modern facilities.”
Replying to a complaint, RTO is not responding to public grievances, Thammanna said, “We are getting many complaints against RTO department. We will fill all the vacancies soon.”
“There is acute shortage of facilities. There are first division clerks working in RTO department, who are not qualified to do work. We will introduce online system. Everything will come to track soon,” Thammanna said.
“We have planned to construct new bus stands at Byndoor, Kundapur and other places, where there is no KSRTC bus stand. Rs 5 crore has been already released for Kundapur bus stand,” he informed.
“We are looking for a government land in Byndoor for new taluk office building. If the government provides land, we will build it along with commercial shops. It would be a source for revenue generation. If all offices like social welfare development, women and child welfare department, sub-registrar office come under one roof, it would be convenient for the public,” he said.
Regarding CM HD Kumaraswamy’s statement on providing free bus pass for government college students, Thammanna said, “The decision will be taken by government. The KSRTC department is running with loss of Rs 600 crore. Yet we have agreed to give 25% subsidy from the department,”
Yogish Shetty Kaup, district JD(S) president, Anitha Shetty, president, JD(S) women unit, Vasudev Rao and others were present.