Mangalore: Rama Sene protests against KSRTC bus fare hike during festive rush
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)
Mangalore, Nov 5: The members of Rama Sene led by their chief Prasad Attavar on Monday November 4 night staged a protest at KSRTC bus stand against the government bus service for charging more during the festive season.
The KSRTC, during festive occasions like Diwali and Christmas, introduces more buses on popular routes like Mangalore-Bangalore to meet the high demand, and charges 25 percent more or sometimes even double the normal rates.
The protestors started their agitation inside the bus stand, however, Barke police soon intervened and drove them out.
Addressing the media, Prasad Attavar said, "KSRTC is a government enterprise and hence it has to serve the people and be in favour of public. It has increased the number of buses especially to Bangalore to ensure that people can travel smoothly without any problem, but with the increase of the buses it has also increased the fares. It will do this again during Christmas."
"On receiving several complaints from the public, Rama Sene decided to act and hence we have staged this protest," he said.
A memorandum was also submitted to KSRTC urging not to increase the fares during festive season.
"If the KSRTC continues to charge more in future also, we will intensify our protest," he warned.
Speaking to daijiworld, Padmanabh, a local said, "My daughter is working in Bangallore and she has come to Mangalore for the festival. When she came from there, the KSRTC bus fare was Rs 450, but now when she is going back, the fare is Rs 800. Is the government not ashamed of imposing such exorbitant prices? How can a common man afford it?"