UDUPI : It is just a week since the much anticipated Mangalore-Udupi-Manipal KSRTC Volvo buses were pressed into service. Already complaints are being heard that the Volvo buses were being unnecessarily harassed by the private express bus drivers.
According to passengers of the Volvo buses, on Wednesday afternoon a private express bus driver had obstructed the movement of a Volvo bus proceeding towards Manipal, by placing his bus on the middle of the road. He, it is learnt, even broke the side mirror of the Volvo bus. Not only that, the driver of this particular bus, created unnecessary hassles to the Volvo bus by overtaking it right from Mangalore to Udupi.
It is being said that ever since the Volvo buses have commenced services, some express buses which leave the stand at approximately the same time, were unduly harassing the Volvo buses and their crew thereby playing with the lives of the passengers.
Passengers who prefer to travel in the Volvo buses complain that it was nothing but a surprise that the innumerous private express buses consider the mere six Volvo buses as their arch rival.
It may be recalled here that a similar behavior of the private bus crew had hampered the movement of the Mangalore-Udupi mini buses of the KSRTC which was launched three years ago. One of the main reason apart from losses, that forced the buses to go off the roads then, was the harassment by the private bus crew.
Now with even the Volvo buses facing a similar problem, the citizens are requesting the police department, transport department and the district administration to take note of the problem seriously and initiate stern action against the private bus crew who harass the Volvo buses.
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