Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 11: With effect from February 9, private express buses moving to Kundapur, Udupi and Karkala via Padubidri routes from the city have hiked the fare by one rupee per stage. This was done to offset toll fee hike affected at the gates.

President of Canara Bus Owners Association, Rajavarma Ballal,stated that with the upward revision of toll fee, buses moving on Karkala route have to pay toll charges of Rs 700 per day and buses on Mangaluru-Udupi and Kundapur have to pay Rs 1,500 everyday. Therefore, he justified the hike.

Express buses (file photo)

Ballal said that the bus owners had written to Prime Minister seeking to exempt public service buses from the ambit of toll charges. Alternatively, the association has urged to revert to the earlier practice of collecting toll fee only one every day. "This letter was sent to National Highways Authority of India office by the office of the Prime Minister, but NHAI has not responded to the latter so far," Ballal stated.