The Hindu

MANGALORE, Dec 19: The Mangalore division of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is all set to introduce buses to Kasaragod next week, albeit on a scale lower than what was originally promised.

The division had received 10 double-door buses from Bangalore against the 25 originally planned, said divisional traffic officer G.T. Prabhakara Reddy. These 10 buses would be plying between the two cities on either side of the Karantaka-Kerala border, he said and added that more buses were likely to arrive in future.

The elegant-looking buses, parked at the regional workshop of KSRTC on Mangalore-Udipi highway, promise a smooth ride as they are built with a new technology, evolved by the Mangalore division.

Mr. Reddy said that the officials had left to Kasaragod for completing the formalities before the launch. The permits, issued by the Regional Transport Authority, need to be counter-signed by the Kerala authorities.

At present, mostly private buses – barring about 25 Kerala State-owned buses – ply on this route.

Passengers have often complained of rash driving and unfriendly attitude of the drivers and conductors in private buses.

The Kerala and Karnataka governments would ensure departure of their vehicles every alternate hour. If the KSRTC buses depart Mangalore between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., while the Kerala State buses would leave from here between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.