Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 9: Sources in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) said that there is a possibility of the corporation buses beginning to operate city buses form May 11.

The district falls under the green zone. For the convenience of the people to move around, as per the instruction of the government, the district administration had taken a decision to allow KSRTC to operate buses on the city routes. Route survey has already been conducted on the routes where KSRTC can run its buses. KSRTC and regional transport office officials have jointly submitted route survey report to the district administration. Based on the report, the administration will take a suitable decision.

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Canara Bus Operators Association president, Rajavarma Ballal said that at a meeting of senior officials of the transport department with private bus operators held at Bengaluru on Friday, a concrete decision could not made. He said that the matter can be further considered only after the lockdown ends. He said that in the next phase, discussions will be held with the chief minister and transport minister.

The officials asked the bus operators to operate buses with 50 percent capacity but the bus owners said this will plunge them into deeper losses. Discussion on the possibility of increasing bus fare by 50 percent was taken up but a clear consensus did not emerge. The bus owners sought three months tax holiday, and payment of compensation to bus conductors and drivers like auto and taxi drivers. The officials said they will discuss with the chief minister and transport minister before reverting.

Canara Bus Operators Association president Rajavarma Ballal, Dakshina Kannada District Bus Owners Association president Dilraj Alva, Canara Bus Owners Union office bearer Venkataramana Pai and some others participated in the meeting.