MANGALORE : Even as the six Mangalore-Manipal Volvo buses are still in waiting at the KSRTC depot to be flagged off, the state government has given its green signal to commence KSRTC Volvo services on the Mangalore-Kasargod route.
According to one source, the only excuse given for the non-commencement of the Mangalore-Manipal Volvo services was the inability of Transport Minister R Ashok to come to the city to flag off the buses. Interestingly, there seems to be no such hindrance in commencing the Mangalore-Kasargod Volvo buses while it is only the Mangalore-Manipal buses which are still in waiting.
There is also an allegation that the Transport Minister Ashok succumbing to pressure from a particular bus lobby in Mangalore, was delaying his visit to Mangalore to launch the Volvo services. The Volvo bus fares on the Mangalore-Manipal route has been fixed at Rs 60. Even the stage points have been fixed and the buses would be operating from State Bank But it is still not clear as to which would be the starting point for the Mangalore-Kasargod buses.
However, KSRTC depot sources said the commencement of the two bus services may be delayed by another week due to the BBMP polls in Bangalore.
Cong stages protest : The Members of the DK District Congress Committee, on Wednesday staged a protest in front of the KSRTC Depot in the city demanding that the Mangalore-Manipal Volvo buses be pressed into service immediately without waiting for
the minister or anyone else for the inaugural.
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