KSRTC Ready for any Competition with private buses – S R Umashanker
Udupi: We are ready for any competition with the private bus operators within the legal parameters said Managing Director of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) S R Umashanker. He was speaking to the media persons prior to the meeting organised at the Deputy Commissioner’s office to discuss on the fleet timings and the introduction of a new fleet in Udupi district here on August 7.
Umashanker who had also served as the deputy commissioner of Udupi District said that private buses are increasing rapidly in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district. Frequent misunderstandings and tension between the government and private bus operators and staff has been reported. There is a rising demand for KSRTC buses in the twin districts. The general public and students have requested for the introduction of the KSRTC fleet in the district as the KSRTC provide bus passes to the students. The rural sector is focussing on the introduction of the KSRTC bus fleet in the twin districts.
The government of Karnataka has introduced free bus passes to SC/ST Students. Students falling under general category are provided bus pass with 25% discount. 18.5 lakh students have availed the bus pass in the state of which 4.4 lakh students belonging to SC/ST category. Students below 7 Standard can avail free travel and students above 7 standard have passes at 25% discount. KSRTC does not avail any subsidy from the government but has been rendering their service to the students.
KSRTC is one of the best fleets in the country. The VTMS-PIS system effectively monitors the KSRTC fleet. The movement of buses is monitored and tracked in the system. The fleet timings are maintained to the serve the people effectively.
There is opposition to the introduction of KSRTC fleet. Private bus operators have managed to bring a stay in the movement of KSRTC buses in the district but the stay order has not been quite effective. The court has further directed the Regional Transport Authority for fixing the timing for all buses and the KSRTC will follow it up with the deputy commissioner and RTO.
President of the KSRTC and Byndoor MLA Gopal Poojary said that there are a large number of private buses are in the twin districts but we are not in competition with them. Our intention is to introduce KSRTC fleet in the rural areas. 32 routes have been identified for the operation of KSRTC buses. 52 buses are operational in the district with temporary permits. KSRTC has now applied for additional 16 permits.
Discussions are on to create Udupi-Mangaluru division. The Deputy Commissioner of Mangaluru Dr Jagadeesha and the Deputy Commissioner of Udupi Priyanka Mary Francis have extended their support. A KSRTC depot will be opened in Karkala and Byndoor. KSRTC has reserved Rupees 10 crore for the depot in Byndoor. We will initiate the tender process for the new bus stand in Udupi costing rupees 30 crores. The bus stand will have vast parking space of 2.5 acres and can accommodate the movement of 1000 buses in a day. The provision for a multiplex will be reserved in the bus stand. The bus stand will have 27 bus bays. Parking facility will be extended in the basement of the bus stand. The new bus stand will be constructed for JNURM buses near the old DDPI Office Udupi at a cost of Rupees 4 crore. The tender process has been initiated for the bus stand.
Buses which have completed 9 Lakh kilometres of travel will be replaced with new buses, new buses will ply on the Mangalore-Bhaktal route. A new fleet will also be introduced in the Mangalore-Kumta route, he added.