The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) launched a direct bus service to the Visvesvaraya Postgraduate Centre of the University of Mysore, Tubinakere, on Thursday.
Around 500 students are pursuing higher studies at the PG centre located on the outskirts of the city.
Three buses left the Mandya bus-stand at 9 a.m., 9.15 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. to drop the students. In the evening, three buses left the bus-stand at 5 p.m., 5.15 p.m. and 5.45 p.m. to pick up the students. The fare is Rs. 13.
Director of the centre S. Chandraju, teaching and non-teaching staff, and a large number of students welcomed the first bus when it reached the PG centre campus at 9.20 a.m. The students offered snacks to the drivers and conductors.
The response to the new service was very good even though there weren’t as many students in the buses during the morning trips owing to lack of publicity. However, the buses were packed in the evening.
KSRTC officials said the response was encouraging. The corporation has decided to run six trips and will increase the number of trips based on the requirement.
“We are expecting the number of commuters to increase from Friday,” officials said.
The buses will stop at Kallahalli, Kiraganduru Gate, V.C. Farm Gate, Induwalu, Siddayyana Koppalu Gate, Sundahalli, Yeliyuru Circle, Kalenahalli, Yeliyuru Kodi, Tubinakere Industrial Area to pick up/drop the passengers. The PG centre was established around 24 years ago but there was no direct bus from Mandya to the centre, Mr. Chandraju said.
Students had to walk from the Bangalore–Mysore Highway to reach the campus.
The Hindu highlighted the issue in a report published on October 26.
