Mangaluru: “KSRTC has applied to Regional Transport Authority (RTA) seeking permit to operate 14 JnNURM buses,” said KSRTC Divisional Controller Vivekananda Hegde.

He was speaking at the transport adalat organised by KSRTC at Zilla Panchayat’s Netravathi Hall in the city on Friday. He said 31 city buses from KSRTC have been operating in the city since last year.

District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai said “there have been demands from people to operate KSRTC JNNURM buses (city buses) on several routes. But, most of the routes in the city are non-monopolized routes where the buses cannot be run directly. The KSRTC has to table the proposal in the Regional Transport Authority meeting, the issue related to the timing should be held in the presence of private bus operators to schedule the timings. Also, the KSRTC has to apply to the Transport Authority for the permit to run the buses.”

“There are only a few monopolized routes and there is a need to enhance KSRTC city bus services in rural areas”, he said.

Corporator Mohammed Rauf said KSRTC city buses are not sanctioned for Bajal area though the residents have a submitted a memorandum. There are about 4,000 families in the area and only three private buses ply now, he said.

The divisional controller said the buses were sanctioned to the areas which have high demand for buses. Permit will sought be to run buses in Bajal, he said.

Social activist Hanumant Kamath said transport adalat should be conducted once in three months. There are more KSRTC staff than the general public at the adalat, he said.

There were demands to extend Gurupura-Kaikamba KSRTC city bus service to Adyapadi, additional KSRTC buses for Kuttettur, Chokkabettu, Moodushedde, Tannirbavi, Kinnigoli and other areas.

Taluk Panchayat members said people have been facing a lot of difficulties due to irregularities of private buses in Ganeshpura -Kuttettur.

Taluk Panchayat President Mohammed Monu, official Jaishant, KSRTC Advisory Board Directors Ramesh Shetty and Sudhir were present in the adalat.