Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Justin D'Silva

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (SP/JD/MS)

Mangaluru/Udupi, Jul 1: Private buses have been helping the coastal districts to grow by serving the citizens promptly. Unlike other major cities, Mangaluru continues to be served by private city, local, and express buses.

A limited number of Karnataka State Road Transport Service buses including Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission and long distances ones, have been operating in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts from Monday this week. The private bus owners had announced that their buses will begin to serve the citizens from July 1.

Mangaluru

Udupi

From Thursday, a limited number of private buses have begun to move about on the roads. As the buses have to be run with 50 percent passenger capacity and on account of hike in fuel cost, like KSRTC buses, private bus operators too have increased their fares.

Private buses started operating in Udupi district as well. Only handful of buses are running. Buses to Mangaluru, Kundapur, Hebri and Shivamogga have started operating. Ticket prices are up by 25%. The ticket fare from Udupi to Mangaluru is increased to Rs 95. From Manipal to Mangaluru the fare is Rs 100. In city buses Rs 12 is fixed for the first two kilometres. On an average Rs two to Rs four in increased in city bus fares. Buses will operate till 7 pm in the city. Depending upon the response of the public private bus owners will take decision to run more buses. Though buses have started plying, the passengers are very few in number at the bus stands. 

The people who were missing the private bus services that are known to serve nooks and corners of the twin districts by sticking to time schedules on account of acute competition, are likely to welcome them with open arms. The information that the district is likely to see a slew of added concessions in the lockdown restrictions, have made the bus owners to hope to do good business.