Mangalore: Krishna Palemar warns private bus operators

Mangaluru, Nov 11: Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada J. Krishna Palemar has said he will seriously consider recommending that the State Government nationalise city bus routes here if private bus operators came in the way of revoking a notification of the District Magistrate which banned new permits being issued to bus operators to operate from the State Bank of India (SBI) bus terminus.

Replying to a query at a press conference here on Monday, Nov 10, Mr. Palemar said that the District Magistrate had issued a notification to this effect 17 years ago.

It was issued considering the narrow condition of roads and traffic in Hampankatta and Town Hall areas 17 years ago.

At that time the bus stand was at Hampankatta. Permitting more buses would have created traffic problems.

He said that he had instructed the Deputy Commissioner to take necessary steps to revoke this notification as now roads were being developed and were being upgraded to four-lanes. Permitting more number of buses would not create any problem. Once the notification was revoked, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) could operate its city services from the SBI terminus to areas where private bus operators would not ply their buses.

If private operators opposed the Government"s move to introduce KSRTC city buses he said that he might make a recommendation to the Government to nationalise the city bus routes.

The Minister said that the KSRTC could introduce its buses in addition to the existing private city buses.

Asked if private operators should withdraw the number of buses corresponding to the number introduced by KSRTC he said that there was no such need.

He said that private bus operators should not come in the way of unnecessarily. Private operators do not ply buses to many areas. The KSRTC can operate buses in such areas, he said.

OneIndia News