Udupi: Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports on Thursday flagged off bus service between  Udupi and Karkala by low-floor buses introduced by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

Speaking the media on the occasion, the Minister said that so far only private buses were operating on the route and now government buses have been introduced. He added that the government wanted both the private and public sector buses to co-operate and provide services to the people.

He informed that at present there were only 12 low-floor government city buses operating in Udupi city while the KSRTC had applied for 26 route permits. As soon as the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) clears these routes, a few more buses are expected to operate on the route, he said.

Further, a KSRTC inter-district bus stand will be constructed at an estimated cost of R 30 crore at Bannanje under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, the Minster stated.

The low-floor bus timings  From Udupi to Karkala: 6.10 am, 6.40 am, 7.50 am, 8.30 am, 9.30 am, 9.40 am, 11.10 am, 12.40 pm, 12.50 pm, 2.15 pm, 2.25 pm, 4.05 pm and 4.25 pm.

Timings From Karkala to Udupi: 6.10 am, 6.55 am, 7.55 am, 8.10 am, 9.25 am, 10.25 am, 11.05 am, 11.15 am, 12.40 pm, 1.40 pm, 2.15 pm, 4.10 pm and 5.15 pm.

The fare between the two destinations will be Rs 38/person.