Mangalore bus lobby too hot for me to handle: Ashoka

State home and transport minister R Ashoka had a tough time when he tried to deal with the private bus lobby of Mangalore, which is known for its arm-twisting and wheeling-dealing techniques.

“Your city’s private bus lobby is too strong and hot for me to handle. Except for higher education minister VS Acharya, none of the other elected representatives were supportive in introducing the KSRTC and mofussil services in Mangalore and Udupi,” Ashoka said.

 “I am helpless as most of the political leaders in Mangalore are against the launch of KSRTC services,” he said.
 He said that he did not know the reason behind this. “But I feel sorry for the commuters of Mangalore and Udupi because they have to put up with the one-upmanship of the private bus lobby,” he said.

“Here, KSRTC is treated like an outsider and the buses have been banned from entering the city due to flimsy reasons. The court has also imposed a stay order banning KSRTC buses from entering the city. This has not happened anywhere else in the state,” Ashoka pointed out.

After having talks with deputy commissioner NS Chennappa Gowda and the KSRTC officials about commencing KSRTC services in the city, he has appealed to the officials to take a final a decision at the Regional Transport Authority meeting, which will be held on February 11.