Mangaluru :  After a week of flood affect in Coorge the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Putturu has commenced services by mini buses between Madikeri in Kodagu district and Sullia in Dakshina Kannada district on an alternative route From Thursday.

The Corporation has decided to operate the services through Panathur-Karike and Bhagamandala (91 km). Puttur Division of KSRTC operates the services from its depots at Madikeri and Sullia, said.

The direct route via NH 275 (Mani-Mysuru-Bengaluru) has got severed due to landslides between Madikeri and Sampaje (51 km).

The facility is introduced to serve the interests of people travelling between the two towns even as hundreds of workers and students used travel on the stretch regularly. Of the 91 km stretch of the alternative route, 12 km passes through Kerala and regularl buses cannot ply on the route given its terrain, KSRTC said. Major portion of the route is narrow and can allow only one-side traffic.

One-way journey takes about 3.30 hours while the services have already commenced with three buses on Thursday. Two more mini buses would be introduced from Friday, the release said.

The 5 Mini Buses would provide 14 single trips between Madikeri and Sullia every day. The services are being operated to the following timings;

Madikeri to Sullia: 7.15 am, 8 am, 9 am, 11.15 am, 12 Noon, 4 pm and 4.30 pm.

Sullia to Madikeri: 7 am, 7.45 am, 11.45 am, 12.15 pm, 1.15 pm, 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm.

As Sampaje Ghat was closed for traffic since August 14, hundreds of regular travellers between Sullia and Madikeri were put to severe hardship. While some parents had put their wards in relatives’ houses around Madikeri to attend schools/ colleges, government employees were said to be staying in their offices at Madikeri. KSRTC’s move could alleviate the grievances to some extent.