Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 4: Since the last three days, buses have been moving around the district but the bus staff finds it very difficult to maintain social distance.

Currently, about 120 city buses and around 100 service buses are operating. As a limited number of buses have been introduced at the beginning, the density of passengers is more during morning and evening hours. In some routes, all seats in the bus are found to have been occupied. Passengers are often found to be overlooking this rule.

Bus stopped and penalised by police on June 2

The bus owners say that they have educated the drivers and conductors about social distancing norms as per government circular and advised them to strictly follow the rules. They agree that in some buses, social distancing is not being strictly followed, and feel that the passengers also should do their bit by being disciplined. They say that at times, passengers coming from far off places cannot be neglected, and in many cases, the passengers are not prepared to heed the advice given by conductors. They also say that passengers are often witnessed travelling in excess of permitted limits in trains, cars, auto rickshaws etc.

Regional transport officer here, R M Varnekar, said that he has received complaints about social distancing norms not being followed in buses. "We will issue a warning to bus owners and take steps if they continue to overlook guidelines. The passengers of buses should necessarily be wearing masks, and passengers without masks should not be allowed to travel in buses," he stated.

The bus owners say that the government has reduced the number of passengers travelling in buses but there is no concession in road tax to be remitted in advance every three months. They claim that in the afternoon, the buses are running empty. City Bus Owners Association president, Dilraj Alva, said that the buses are being run at a loss for the benefit of passengers. He rued the fact that fine is being imposed on city buses and if this continues, it would be difficult to run the buses.

The traffic police at Nagori stopped about 15 buses taking passengers to Talapady, Konaje, Ullal etc near Natekal and Jeppu Netravati bridge and fined them for carrying passengers in excess of the limit. In the morning, they stopped buses coming from Thokkottu direction near Pumpwell and forced additional passengers to alight.