BANGALORE: The government of Karnataka has categorically stated that it is determined to eliminate the illegal operations of private buses on nationalized routes.
Disclosing this to mediapersons here on Tuesday, transport minister R Ashok made it clear that the government had the requisite political will to implement the decision.
The state owned Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) would soon acquire 1,600 new buses to meet the demand that would arise after the termination of the illegal private bus operations on nationalised routes.
Most routes on national and state highways in the state had been nationalised giving the KSRTC a monopoly in operating the bus services. Private bus operators had been given separate permits to provide bus services, mostly linking interior rural areas. But most of these private operators have been brazenly violating their route guidelines, shuttling on the nationalized routes and eating into KSRTC revenues, Ashok explained.
"We will not allow this to go on," he said and added: "We have no objection to the private operators adhering to their assigned routes."
Ashok said the government was committed to strengthening the KSRTC which bore a huge social responsibility by providing concessional passes to students and senior citizens, besides providing up to Rs 2.5 lakh insurance cover to its passengers.
The minister said the state government will file an affidavit before the High Court expressing its readiness to ensure smooth bus services after rooting out private operators from nationalized routes.
The affidavit is being filed in response to a legal battle initiated by the private bus operators, who argued that the government was not in a position to meet the needs of commuters in the absence or private buses.
Reiterating that the state government would not succumb to pressures from private transport lobby, Ashok said the KSRTC had the financial muscle to purchase 1600 new buses. Even bus terminals were being modernised to provide better facilities for passengers.
Expressing confidence that the High Court would uphold the state government's case, the minister said new buses would be pressed into service immediately after the anticipated court order.
