Mangaluru : The Dakshina Kannada Regional Transport Authority (RTA), the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is all set to roll out services of city buses funded under JnNURM in Mangaluru by this month-end.

Though the Corporation had sought permits for 35 buses to operate on 24 routes from the State Bank based on public demand, the RTA granted permits for 18 buses on 18 routes. Citing the archaic District Magistrate Notification of 1991 that was issued to favour a group of private bus operators, the Deputy Commissioner acting as the district magistrate relaxed the notification only for 18 buses.

While continuing to press its demand to issue permits for the remaining 17 buses under JNNURM from the State Bank itself, the KSRTC has geared up to operate services on the routes for which permits have been given.

Its Mangaluru Divisional Controller Vivekanand Hegde told  that selection of crew and their training has already started. Even though the corporation is getting a new crew after recruitment, a mixture of new as well as experienced crew from the region would be deployed for the city bus service to ensure smooth operation.

While the corporation is expecting delivery of low-floor buses with wide doors for city operation by the month-end, it is preparing to start the services with the existing buses even if the new coaches are not delivered within the time, Mr. Hegde said.

After the ‘timing meeting’ at the Regional Transport Office, the Corporation has prepared the draft timetable and is awaiting approval from the central office, he said.

The new coaches are being equipped with geographical positioning system (GPS)-enabled intelligent transport system. The real-time tracking would help rendering voice announcement of en-route stops. At present, en-route stops for each route are being fed to the system, Mr. Hegde said. The system would also help the corporation to track the movement of buses.

There were certain modifications to the permits already issued. Instead of Bondel-Talapady service, KSRTC would be operating the service between State Bank and Talapady. Similarly, the permit between State Bank and Pilikula has been split to operate six single trips to Pilikula and eight single trips to Vamanjoor. On each route, the buses would make at least 12 single trips (six round trips).