Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Nov 8: Speaking to newsmen here on Friday November 7, minister Krishna J Palemar held himself strongly in favour of allowing both the KSRTC and private buses to operate buses in the twin districts, as it would lead to a healthy competition and pave way for better passenger facilities. At the same time, the BJP state president D V Sadanand Gowda said in Puttur, that he is opposed to nationalisation of national highways in the twin-districts and earmarking them solely for the KSRTC buses. He however, said that he favours both the government a private buses to have co-existence here and serve the people in a better way.
Palemar said that there has been lot of improvement in services provided to the people after private buses started operating alongside government buses on Mangalore-Sullia route. In spite of some drawbacks and forcible bundhs for frivolous reasons, private operators have been providing good services to the people here, he said. If there are problems, the onus of setting them right rests on the deputy commissioner and transport officers. Nationalisation cannot be a panacea for such problems, he stressed.
Palemar also said that the notifications issued by the district magistrate in 1991 and 93, banning entry of new transport vehicles into Hampankatta region, has become a stumbling block for starting of new bus services from State Bank Circle." I have asked both the deputy commissioner and transport officials to take remedial steps", he added. While the officials have been instructed to take action against buses which obtain permits and then do not ply vehicles to the stated destinations, the KSRTC has been requested to operate buses wherever necessary, he explained.
Gowda on the other hand, felt that imposing of a particular transport without taking into account opposition of the people, cannot be justified. "The choice should be left to the people. I have already kept the chief minister and the transport minister abreast of my opinion that dual transport system should be allowed to operate here," he said. Sadanand Gowda also stressed that the government will not force any anti-people policies on the people, in view of the apprehensions being expressed that the private transport industry will be in doldrums and employees and labourers working in this sector get driven to streets.
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