Mangaluru: Good news for Senior citizens who travel by bus- 17 Low-floor KSRTC buses have started operating today from State Bank of India bus terminus. At present these buses will ply on three different routes, until two or three more routes will be added starting 19 December 2015. The three destinations from State Bank of India bus terminus will be Mangalpet via Baikampady, Someshwara via Thokkottu and Mudipu via Madyar. These low-floor buses will be operated from the funds sanctioned under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
These low-floor buses manufactured keeping Senior Citizens on mind have digital destination display boards and automatic doors in the front and centre. The buses also have voice-based stop information system. Until new fleet of buses arrive, KSRTC will be using these buses which have been on the Mysuru City roads for the last one-and-half years.
Speaking to mangalorean.com, Kumar a official at KSRTC department said, “Regional Transport Authority of Dakshina Kannada had permitted us to operate on 18 routes, but KSRTC will operate buses on 17 routes before the end of this month. We have also asked RTA seeking change of one route. Our bus fare little cheaper than the private bus fares.Some of the other routes in the pipeline from State Bank of India bus terminus are Car Street- Ganeshpura- Katipalla- Kaikamba; Gurupura -Kaikamba; Pilikula; Moodushedde; Shakthinagar; Mukka; Car Street- Kunjathbail; Talapady; Kinya; Faisal Nagar and Bajal church.
78 year Marcel D’Cunha boarding the bus from SBI to Mudipu spaeking to mangalorean.com said, ” Thank God, finally God has heard my prayers. Now I can board the bus with ease and without any difficulties.Boarding those private buses with the steps little higher I had a tough time climbing them. Wish more of these low-floor buses are put in service in different routes so that seniors like me can benefit a lot. My sincere thanks to the government and KSRTC for caring the old people”
Bus Route , Bus Number and Bus Timing Chart :
According to sources Udupi RTA has granted permission to operate nine KSRTC Volvo buses between Mangaluru and Bhatkal via Udupi and Kundapura. Details of the bus timings are yet to be finalized.
CAN ANYONE TELL WHY THE ENTRANCE/EXIT BUS
STEPS OF ALL THE OLD PRIVATELY OPERATED BUSES
ARE ALMOST 1/2 METER HIGH TO CLIMB AND/OR EXIT.
THE TRAFFIC DEPT. SHOULD MAKE IT COMPULSORY FOR
ALL PRIVATE BUS OPERATORS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL
STEP BELOW, SO THAT CHILDREN, LADIES, THE ELDERLY
CAN EASILY STEP INTO A PUBLIC BUS WITHOUT A STRAIN.
IT’S ALMOST AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT RIGHT NOW FOR THE
ELDERLY TO STEP INTO A BUS.