Mangaluru: The much talked about “Flybus” launched by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) made its first stop at the KSRTC bus stand-Bejai at 5.50 am on Friday, 21 August 2015, before proceeding to Udupi/Manipal. The “Flybus” had left Kempegowda International Airport-Bengaluru at 10pm, with couple stops in Bengaluru city to pick passengers. Speaking to some of the passengers about their journey on this super bus, everyone seemed to be happy with the facilities and comfortable travel.
The “Flybus” bearing licence number KA 57 F 355, driven by Umesh, hailing from Bengaluru and conductor, Shreeshail from Ramnagar with only a few passengers since it was newly started made a halt for about 15 minutes at the KSRTC bus terminal-Mangaluru. Speaking to mangalorean.com, driver Umesh said, ” I have been a driver for KSRTC for decades, and driving this Volvo bus is something I feel proud. The drive is smooth with many safety features installed in this bus. I can see that all the passengers were happy, relaxed comfortably throughout the journey, some enjoying the movie channels. Tonight the same bus will leave Manipal at 10pm, and reach Mangaluru around 11.20, and proceed to Bengaluru Airport to reach there around 7am”.
Speaking to mangalorean.com, Sreeram Kumar a student at MIT- Manipal said, ” Wow, although I have traveled by KSRTC Airavath multi-axle bus many times, but the trip on “Flybus” was awesome and worth paying a few extra bucks. I had reached Bengaluru Airport by flight from my hometown, Delhi at 5pm, and it was very convenient for me to board this “Flybus” to Manipal, rather than going to Majestic Bus-stand-Bengaluru to catch the KSRTC night bus to Mangaluru/Manipal. This is a very good move taken by the KSRTC department for the convenient of its travellers, and I hope they will keep this service forever and not cancel it half way after promoting it.”
Another lady passenger, Umashree said, ” More than I wanted a comfortable travel, I booked the seat on this bus because it has a emergency chemical toilet. Imagine we ladies travelling by night bus, and bus stops in the middle of the Shiradi Ghat section for a break or toilet use- and surprisingly you don’t find a decent toilet or you will have to go behind the bushes in the dark woods. KSRTC introducing toilet in this bus has made it convenient for the passengers when they have to go for recess. I loved the whole journey, and will travel again and again only on “Flybus” when I travel between Mangaluru and Bengaluru and back”.
When you got to go, you got to go!-that’s right, when it comes to go to the toilet. But bus drivers shouldn’t be the potty police. When an passenger desperetly has to go to pee, he should be allowed to go – but not in the case of drivers of these Bengaluru-Mangaluru buses who make you control your bladder until they decide where to stop the bus. Not any more- when you travel in “Flybus” you can relieve yourself whenever you feel like using a toilet. The emergency/Chemical toilet on “flybus” has all the basic toilet necessities- and you don’t have to look for the light switch before you enter this toilet- the light will automatically turn once you step inside.
The fare between Udupi/ Manipal and KIA is Rs. 1,100 while between Mangaluru and KIA is Rs. 1,000. This multi-axle Volvo coach has 40 passengers capacity -it features artificial leather seats with ample leg room for passengers, live flight timings, has GPS, Wi-Fi, entertainment system with 60 channels, pantry and chemical toilet. KSRTC has decided to run the service as there are many people, including hundreds of students from Manipal and Mangaluru, who travel via KIA since there are not many direct flights from Mangaluru to North Indian destinations.