Though the Dakshina Kannada Regional Transport Authority (RTA) on Thursday directed the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to operate air-conditioned services between the city and the International Airport, the Corporation is unlikely to commence the operations.
Chairing a meeting of the RTA here, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim asked the Corporation, which had sought regularisation of temporary permits between Mangaluru Central Railway Station and Bajpe, to operate a set of service to the International Airport, off Bajpe. He said such services would benefit hundreds of air passengers who now have to shell out exorbitant amount to taxis. The Authority also granted permits to KSRTC to operate services to Bajpe.
However, senior KSRTC officials said they are not inclined to operate services to the airport. “We had operated the services for over a year in 2012-13 and suffered heavy loss due to low patronage. We even tried air-conditioned buses and operating towards Kasaragod, but in vein. Hence, we would not make a fresh start,” said one of the officials. However, two regular buses would be operated to Bajpe via A.B. Shetty Circle, Bavutagudde, KSRTC and Kavoor, he said.
Meanwhile, the Authority regularised four temporary permits for KSRTC for services between Bejai and Mudipu via Thokkottu and Konaje even as deferring applications for seven new permits on the same route. It also regularised one temporary permit each for Someshwara and Adyarapadavu. With regular permits, the Corporation now can issue concessional bus passes to students on the route, said an official.
The RTA also granted temporary permits to KSRTC to operate one service each between Puttur and Sampigekatte and Puttur and Sringeri via Dharmasthala, Charmadi, Mudigere and Horanadu.
When private operators raised several objections for KSRTC's applications, social activist G. Hanumanth Kamath asked the RTA to give preferential treatment to the Corporation since it discharged various social responsibilities too. "You also give permits to private operators and let there be healthy competition. People would choose the right operator," he said.
Superintendent of Police Sharanappa and RTO Afzal Ahmed Khan were present.
