Tough time for Mysore bound passengers

Tough time for Mysore bound passengers
Vijay Times

THE Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations (KSRTC) decision to shift operations of Mysore-bound buses from the Kempegowda Bus Stand (KBS) to the Satellite Bus Terminus (SBT) on Mysore Road has come in for harsh criticism from the public.

While the KSRTC claims that this is necessary to decongest the KBS, several commuters, including those from other parts of the State, claim that the move will only inconvenience them.

Though the authorities have made arrangements to ferry Mysore-bound passengers from the KBS to the SBT, not many know about the facility. This is because the officials concerned have not taken proper measures to keep the commuters informed about the change in starting points of buses and the free shuttle services available between the two stations.

Pattabhiramachandra, a passenger from Mysore, said, "I was totally taken aback when I heard about the new developments at KBS. I missed the free minibus service from KBS to SBT. The auto drivers used the opportunity to demand more. I refused to take a rickshaw. As I was in a hurry to return to Mysore, I had to take a Volvo bus, thereby spending twice the fare amount. This could have been avoided, had there been other buses and proper information." "We were haplessly waiting for a bus to Srirangapatna, when we learnt of the information board at KBS. As it was not in English, we had to ask and get to know from other people that Mysore-bound buses had been shifted," said Micheal and Joshua from South Africa, who are studying in the City.

Girish, a software engineer, said, "I visit Mysore on weekends. Enroute to Mysore, I take a bus and park my twowheeler at SBT. However, as I take a train back home, Ill now have to take an autorickshaw from the railway station to SBT. This works out to be expensive. It would have been better if they hadnt shifted the operations." "After shifting the buses, the authorities should have provided better parking facilities at SBT. As there is no security, vehicles cant be parked here," said Irshad, a student.

"When the buses werent shifted, we had several options available. On occasions, when we did not get train tickets, we used to take a bus from the KBS as both the KBS and the Bangalore City Railway Station are close to each other. Now, if we miss a train, we will have to go all the way back to SBT," Raghu, a regular commuter, said.

KSRTC assistant traffic manager Ravindranath told BBVVT Tthat the corporation had decided to carry out the shifting process in stages. "At present, Volvo and Rajahamsa buses are being operated from the KBS as the seats of these buses are reserved from KBT itself," he said.

"These buses, after picking up passengers from KBS, will pass through SBT. However, only express and non-stop buses are plying from SBT," he pointed out.

"Keeping the convenience of commuters in mind, the KSRTC has deployed mini-buses to ferry passengers from the KBS to the SBT free of cost," he added.


Talking to BVT, KSRTC managing director M R Sreenivas Murthy said, "Commuters need not panic. There are no plans to withdraw the free mini-bus service. The service will continue even after the shifting process is completed." "The initial stages of shifting had definitely inconvenienced passengers. However, after the introduction of the mini-bus service, passengers are now getting adjusted to the changes," he said.

"The shifting has been delayed because of the ongoing civil work at SBT. In another 15 days, the work will be over," Murthy added.