Mangaluru (The Hindu): Asking private and government bus operators to treat operating buses to rural areas also as a priority, K.G. Jagadeesha, Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of Dakshina Kannada Regional Transport Authority, on Wednesday instructed the secretary of the authority to prepare a policy to this effect.

Chairing a meeting of the authority, the Deputy Commissioner asked private bus operators and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to operate buses in the interest of people and not only for profit. After civil society members demanded buses to rural areas and complained about irregular services of private buses on the outskirts of the city, the Deputy Commissioner said that the priority of operators is not only operating buses to the State Bank of India bus terminus. They should earmark a certain number of buses of their total fleet to rural areas. This is to shift the focus of operating their entire fleet only in urban areas.

The Deputy Commissioner said that he would study the legal implications of the policy once it was ready. He said that being in the government sector, the KSRTC has greater responsibility of ensuring that rural areas were served with buses. Mr. Jagadeesha asked private bus operators to sensitise their crew members on cultivating a service mindset while on duty. Certain drivers and conductors required it, he said. Private bus operators should change their old fleet of buses and introduce consumer-friendly buses that have low footboards and other facilities. “Modernise your fleet,” he said.

Referring to private bus operators approaching the Karnataka State Transport Appellate Tribunal challenging the July 7 proceedings of the RTA, which permitted the KSRTC to operate 17 more buses on city routes, Mr. Jagadeesha said that he would seek legal opinion on the matter and act accordingly.

The tribunal had directed the RTA to undertake the exercise of permitting KSRTC buses afresh. Of the 35 city buses proposed the KSRTC is already operating 18 buses.

After listening to the civil society members and private bus operators, the Deputy Commissioner said that the authority would take decisions the matters raised in the meeting keeping the interests of people in mind.