Hike of bus fare opposed at RTA meet

Mangalore, October 20: Severe opposition to increase of bus fare in private buses was on display from the civil society representatives at the RTA meeting held at Deputy Commissioner's office in Mangalore on Saturday.

Expressing his thoughts at the meeting chaired by Dr. N S Chennappa Gowda, Deputy Commissioner, DK, Hanumanth Kamath, President, Sarvajanika Hitharakshana Vedike, Mangalore, said that although private bus owners keep citing the diesel price hike of government as a pretext to hike bus fares, they never take into account as to how many times is a common man's salary undergoes a hike. Stating that a majority of people are in favour of introducing more KSRTC buses in the city and around which have lesser minimum fares, Mr. Kamath said that the private bus operators have evil intentions of maintaining monopoly as they propose to increase bus fares on one hand and express opposition to introduction of KSRTC buses on the other. The district administration should not surrender to the “lobby of private bus owners”, he said.

Sadanand, another representative of the civil society, groused that people are being made to travel like animals in private buses. “200-300 people are made to travel in a bus and they fill people worth sitting in four different buses together in one bus. We have a right to a comfortable journey. Please introduce more KSRTC buses. There is no need to hike prices for private buses as they are making profits”, he said.

Dinesh, a physically challenged citizen representing the Association of Physically Challenged said that their rights are being violated in private buses. “Seats reserved for us are taken by others. We are also not given any concession either”, he said, and requested the district administration to direct bus operators to not charge endosulfan victims.

Another representative of the civil society groused that due to overcrowded buses, incidents of theft in buses have increased. “Mobile phones, purses and chains are being stolen frequently in these overcrowded buses but the bus owners do not take any responsibility for it”, he said, and also urged the authorities to look into the irritating horn honking of these private buses.

The issue of allowing certain buses which are currently only operating upto Mallikatta and Kankanady, to move further to State Bank, was also placed before the Deputy Commissioner, to which he said he could not allow discussion on the topic as the matter is sub-judice.

Speaking on behalf of the private bus owners, legal representatives said that as per the already existing notifications, the bus owners are well within their right to increase the minimum bus fare to Rs.6 and hence they must be allowed to do so.

The Deputy Commissioner said that he will examine the suggestions and arguments put forth by both parties and take a decision soon.