We are here to serve people. The private city bus operators cannot oppose the grant of permits for KSRTC, says the corporation’s Mangaluru SDM
| Photo Credit: ANIL KUMAR SASTRY
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation’s (KSRTC) Mangaluru division has applied to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Dakshina Kannada, seeking permits to operate buses on 31 more routes in and around Mangaluru, at an RTA meeting here on Monday.
Among the routes that the KSRTC sought permits are 12 single trips from four buses on the Mangaluru State Bank-Moodbidri route via Jyothi, Nanthoor, Vamanjoor, Gurupura, Kaikamba and Ganjimutt.
Buses via Padil
It has also sought permits to operate buses on six routes passing through ‘Kartavya Soudha’, the district office complex in Padil. It includes 20 single bus trips on the State Bank-Farangipete route, 14 on the Mangaluru Junction Railway Station – Kodikal route, 10 on the State Bank-Kannagudde, eight each on the Mangaluru-Ulaibettu and the State Bank-Mangaluru Junction Railway Station routes, five on the Mangaluru Junction Railway Station – Adhyapady route, and four on the Kankanady Market – Adhyapady route.
KSRTC has also sought a permit for the 10 single trips each by one bus on the Mangaluru KSRTC Bus Stand – Surathkal- Farangipete and Mangaluru KSRTC Bus Stand – Farangipete – Surathkal routes. It has also sought a permit for eight bus trips on the KSRTC Bus Stand – Kateel route via Surathkal, Katipalla, Shibaroor and Kinnigoli.
Increased demand
Seeking permits during the meeting, KSRTC Mangaluru Senior Divisional Manager (SDM) Rajesh Shetty said since the launch of the Shakti scheme, there was demand by people for more services of KSRTC on city routes. Though the notification issued by the Deputy Commissioner in 1996 restricting the entry of buses to Hampankatta does not apply to their plea, the RTA should exempt KSRTC from the notification and grant permits. “We are here to serve people. The private city bus operators cannot oppose the grant of permits [for KSRTC],” Mr. Shetty said.
Advocates representing the Canara Bus Operators Association and Dakshina Kannada Bus Operators Association submitted their objections and sought time to file a detailed response.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan, who heads the authority. Superintendent of Police K. Arun and Senior Regional Transport Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Transport, Shridhar K. Mallad, were present.
Published – August 18, 2025 08:42 pm IST
