The Dakshina Kannada Regional Transport Authority (RTA) on Thursday said it would take a decision on the plea for providing halt for private express buses plying between Mangaluru and Udupi/ Manipal at Haleyangadi in a week.
Chairing the meeting of RTA here, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim heard views of Haleyangadi residents as well as bus operators and said he would pronounce the decision in a week. The residents said though Helayangadi has grown bigger over the years, express services are not stopping at the place thereby inconveniencing hundreds of employees and students. Either they have to go to Mulki or Surathkal in shuttle buses to board express services, they said.
Explaining operators’ predicament, Canara Bus Operators Association President Rajavarma Ballal said express services between Mangaluru and Udupi earlier had only one stop in between, Mulki. Now there are more than 25 halts and more halts are given, there would be no difference between express and shuttle services. Also, the move would affect the revenue earnings of shuttle operators. Already, express services between Karkala and Mangaluru plying via Padubidri are provided a halt in Haleyangadi, he said.
The residents however were not prepared to buy this argument and stuck to their demand. They said operators were only eyeing on profit and ignoring public convenience.
