Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 30: Irked by the unending quarrel between government transport and private bus operators, deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis on Wednesday, August 30 walked out of a Regional Transport Authority (RTA) meeting held at Dr V S Acharya Memorial Hall, Rajathadri in Manipal here.

In the beginning of the meeting, the deputy commissioner and the district superintendent of police (Sanjeev Patil) had instructed the representatives to not talk on general issues. They had also said that if there were any specific problems in transport service, they would find solutions for the same at the earliest.

Kerebettu Sanjiv Shetty, president of Senior Citizen Service Committee, Hebri raised the issue of competition between private buses on Someshwara to Madamakki route and said, "Hundreds of school-going children depend on private mini buses. But those buses never stop for them. Government buses service had begun recently, but the move is being objected by private buses now. The general public is suffering due to this."

Lending support to government buses he said that the private bus operators harass people. "They do not provide good service and the conductors treat passengers very impolitely. The RTA should take action against such conductors. Permit should be issued for mini government buses in rural areas," he added.

"The government should provide free bus passes for students till seventh standard and also for physically challenged people," urged Shetty.

When a member from Byndoor complained about government buses not stopping at the bus stand which creates problems for commuters, KSRTC officer Jayashanth said that he had issued clear instructions to all bus operators to make use of the assigned bus stand.

Belle Shivaji Suvarna said that commuters need JNNURM buses on the Kaup–Moodubelle route.

Another person said that as Hebri is an educational hub, additional government buses are required on the route.

Private bus operator Kuylady Suresh Nayak said, "The government buses do not follow the timings assigned by the RTA. The RTA had extended the route from Karkala to Kundapur and Byndoor to Shivamogga, but the buses have stuck to the same old schedule and not upgraded to the new route. There are frequent clashes between KSRTC and private bus operators as both have identical timings for Udupi- Karkala trips.

"If government buses function this way, private buses will suffer losses. It is better if private buses are nationalised. Hundreds of people depend on private bus operating jobs for their livelihood," said Nayak.

He further said that the schedule issued by the RTA to both private city buses and KSRTC buses in some areas were almost the same resulting in clashes between them.

When a private bus operator from Kundapur complained that there were four KSRTC buses operating without permit on the Kundapur-Byndur-Shiroor route, KSRTC officer Jayashanth said, "If such cases are found, we will clear them in a meeting. Private buses also violate rules. Private bus operators should present their permit for all buses in that meeting."

The DC instructed that the meeting between RTA officer, private bus operators, and KSRTC officer has to be conducted and the timings of the buses too has to be rescheduled.

The discussion turned into a heated argument ending in a verbal clash between the KSRTC representatives and private bus operators. An irked DC walked out before the completion of the meeting.

RTA in-charge officer Ramakrishna Rai and others were present.