Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 23: Even though the roads connecting Kerala with Karnataka at the border have been opened after remaining closed due to stringent action taken by Kerala government in view of coronavirus infection, buses are not moving on the roads. Vehicular traffic is on, but inter-state bus services have not yet commenced as permission for the same has not been given to operate them.

The central government had removed all obstacles for inter-state movement during the first week of August but Kerala government had not opened roads leading to Dakshina Kannada district in view the high prevalence of COVID cases there. Later, it had cited the fact that the case is in the court as reason for its desisting from permitting inter-state bus movements.

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After Kasargod district BJP president, Srikanth, filed writ petition in the high court, the high court recently passed an order ordering the Kerala government to open up the border roads. The government of Kerala complied with this order and all the roads are open now. However, both the states have not taken any decision about operating inter-state buses between Dakshina Kannada and Kerala. Even though the Kerala government had claimed sometime back that the bus service will run with effect from September 21, this did not happen.

There are 21 inter-state roads between Dakshina Kannada and Kasargod, and buses are moving in 12 of them. Bus services between Kasargod and Mangaluru are off since the last six months, which has created lot of problems for the daily commuters. Before the lockdown, over 150 trips were operated between the two cities as about 5,000 people travel between Mangaluru and Kasargod on a daily basis, but now they are facing lot of hardships.

KSRTC divisional controller here, Arun Kumar, said that the corporation has informed the deputy commissioner about the need to start bus services to Kerala. As this is an inter-state arrangement, both the states have to take a decision before buses can be run on these roads, he clarified.