The new bus shelters dotting the road between Clock Tower Circle and A.B. Shetty Circle are now more than a year old. But commuters find them not much of a use. Moreover, no bus shelter has come up at State Bank Circle – from where most city buses start.
This was one of the issues raised during the Sarige (Transport) Adalat held at the office of the Regional Transport Officer here on Tuesday.
Hanumanth Kamath from the Nagarika Hitarakshna Vedike said the new bus shelters did not have any indication of where exactly the city buses stop. “If we stand at one shelter, the route No. 5 stops at a different point. We have to run and catch the bus. I think you also do not know where exactly the buses stop, though these shelters are few steps away from your office,” Mr. Kamath told Regional Transport Officer C. Mallikarjuna.
Mr. Kamath said the bus shelters at the busy State Bank Circle were removed by the authorities at the behest of shopkeepers in the area. New bus shelters had not yet come up there despite there being a need.
John Rodrigues from Shivbagh complained that the bus from State Bank to Sooterpet was not plying as per the permit issued. Though the bus had to run eight trips, it ran only two trips to the destination via ESI Hospital. “Passengers are asked to get down mid way. If we question, the operators say we are free to complain,” Mr. Rodrigues said.
To this, Mr. Mallikarjuna said their personnel did survey the route and found that the operator was not plying as per the permit. “We have found your complaint to be true. We will warn the operator. If he continues to violate, we will take action to cancel the permit,” he said.
Mohan Salian from Gurupura complained against Janit Travels for not plying between Moodbidri and Kandavara. “The bus is not going to Kandavara. Instead, it has been taking a turn midway at Kodyanka Kaikamba,” he said.
Another commuter, Gomes, from Bejai complained about unruly behaviour of conductors on Route No. 15 and 19. Ms. Gomes said there had not been much help from dialling the number of the RTO office displayed on the bus.
Mr. Mallikarjuna said her calls might not have been answered at his office as it was closed on Sunday and Monday.
He said so far about 130 buses in the city had displayed telephone numbers of the RTO and the police to whom complaints about rash driving and about the use of mobile phone by the bus driver can be lodged. These numbers would be displayed in all city buses in phases.
No deadline for prepaid stand
Regional Transport Officer Mr. Mallikarjuna did not set a deadline for starting a pre-paid autorickshaw stand at Mangalore Junction Railway Station. “It will come up shortly. I will not give a date this time,” he said.
Mr. Mallikarjuna said pre-paid autorickshaw counters at the Mangalore Junction and the Mangalore Central were being set up out of the funds of Rs. 4 lakh being given by the Corporation Bank.
“Hence we cannot press for meeting the deadline. We have to hear the sponsors.” Mr. Mallikarjuna said his office had received colour coding for the kiosk. An issue relating to the kiosk being used for advertisement of the bank was being addressed, he said.
