Mangaluru : The RTA authorities are contemplating over restricting the movement of old buses that are passenger-unfriendly, said Deputy Commissioner Dr K G Jagadeesha.

Speaking after receiving the public complaints as a preparatory to the RTA meeting here on Wednesday, he hinted at restricting plying of old buses and directed the private bus operators to go for modernisation of their buses.

Private bus operators said that the relaxation of District Magistrate’s (DM) Notification to allow 18 JnNURM buses to ply from State Bank bus terminus has increased the traffic congestion in the city. The DM Notification of 1992 restricts the entry of buses to State Bank terminus. Refuting such allegations of the operators, the deputy commissioner said, “Majority of the private buses that ply in the region have old buses. They are not passenger-friendly. As a result, they take more time when compared with modern buses.

This is also one of the reasons for increase in traffic congestion in the city.” “The private bus operators should stop patting their own back. They should serve the public and get appreciation from the public. The private bus operators should hold sensitisation programme for their conductors and drivers on how to behave decently with the public,” the deputy commissioner said and warned that if he continues to get complaints against private buses, then action would be initiated against them.

A few residents from Konaje, Kaikamba, Gurpura, Adyar and Chelyar said the private bus operators do not operate buses after 7 pm on a few routes in spite of having permit to ply night service.

The deputy commissioner said the private bus operators and KSRTC should not worry only of profit, instead, they should serve the public. The private bus operators should also serve in the rural areas as well, he added.

He also directed the RTO to formulate a policy for the operators to serve in the rural areas as well. “If there is no legal binding on it, then the district administration will appeal to the private operators and KSRTC to serve the areas where there are no bus facilities,” he said.

The deputy commissioner said that 17 JnNURM buses were issued permits in the last RTA meeting on July 7. However, the private bus operators have approached the High Court against the modification of the DM notification for issuing the permits to ply KSRTC buses from State Bank terminus and the HC has stayed the order. After seeking the legal opinion on the stay order, the future course of action will be taken on JnNURM buses, he added.

Meanwhile, Nooyi Balakrishna Rao sought a KSRTC bus from Mangaluru to Polali via Gurpura and Kateel to Dharmasthala via Kaikamba-B C Road for the benefit of the devotees.

Nagarika Hitarakshana Samithi President Hanumantha Kamath said buses should stop at designated places and not at the places where passengers show hand to stop. This will help in arresting the traffic congestion to some extent.

Deputy Commissioner Dr K G Jagadeesha said that instead of holding an open RTA meeting, a preparatory meeting will be held and later the RTA meeting will be restricted to its members.

In the preparatory meeting, the grievances of the public, bus operators and KSRTC and other stake holders will be heard. The RTA meeting will be held once in two months. Those who wish to take part in the preparatory meeting should submit their grievances in writing to the RTO and collect the acknowledgement.