Mangaluru: Transport officials in the twin districts have come under fire from the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), as the organisation claims that they have become puppets of corrupt private bus operators instead of serving the interests of the people. B. K. Imtiyaz, the District Chief of DYFI in Dakshina Kannada, criticised the officials for neglecting the needs of rural communities, particularly women who are unable to benefit from the Government’s Shakti Yojana due to limited access to state-owned RTC buses.
In a demonstration held in Mangaluru city, Imtiyaz expressed his strong opposition to the officials’ alleged favouritism towards private operators, stressing that the government’s efforts to provide free travel for women should not be undermined. He condemned the District Administration for failing to take action against private bus owners who continue to charge an extra Rs. 5 on passenger tickets under the pretext of tolls, even after the closure of the Surathkal toll gate for eight months. The residents of the district demand the introduction of Government buses in every village to replace the dominance of private buses.
Santosh Bajal, the DYFI District Secretary, highlighted the shortage of Government NURM (JNNURM) buses in the city, revealing that out of the 68 buses sanctioned, only 35 are currently operational. Bajal called on the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the Government to address this issue promptly. Furthermore, he emphasised the need to resume NURM bus services from the State Bank circle in the city to rural areas. Bajal also urged for the introduction of Government bus routes connecting Puttur and Belthangady, as well as Moodbidri and Mangaluru.
Responding to the protests, Regional Transport Officer Vishwanath Naik visited the demonstration site, acknowledging the demands of the protestors. He assured them that appropriate action would be taken to address their concerns and fulfill their requests.