The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has faced losses worth Rs 76 crore since September 6 when the Cauvery dispute erupted
The losses incurred by the state-run Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) may cross Rs 100 crore, due to stopping of bus services to Tamil Nadu, especially when an immediate resolution of the Cauvery conflict between the two neighbouring states is less likely.
The KSRTC officials told the dna that the transport agency runs a loss of Rs 50-55 lakh each day due to no bus service between the two states. The losses faced by the KSRTC from September 6 till now is nearly Rs 76 crore, the officials added.
The officials said that no decision has been taken yet on the resumption of bus services. Nearly 450 KSRTC buses operate on Karnataka- Tamil Nadu route.
In addition to the revenue losses, many KSRTC and other buses bearing Karnataka registration numbers were burnt down in Tamil Nadu during the recent violence over Cauvery water sharing.
The inter-district bus services in Karnataka had to suffer on Thursday when the pro-Kannada activists barged into the KSRTC buses operating on Mandya-Mysuru route and threatened to travel ticket-less. “We have initiated non-cooperation movement under which we would not cooperate with the government and its agencies. This is our way of protesting against the failure of state government in addressing our concerns and resolving the water crisis,” an activist said.
The KSRTC, however, let the local police jump into action who prevented the activists from boarding the train. “We are still unsure about when to resume the bus services,” the KSRTC official said.
Due to the interruption in the bus services, the private operators have doubled the rates causing further problem for commuters. The consistent closure of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka highway along with transport unavailability even led to many people crossing the border on foot at Attibele on Hosur Road on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
The KSRTC buses have been parked some kilometres away from the border so that the people can travel within Karnataka. “I work in Bengaluru but I am originally from Chennai. Both the KSRTC and Tamil Nadu Road Transport Corporation buses have stopped plying since the Cauvery dispute erupted. People like us who have to commute between the two states are finding it increasingly difficult to do so. We hope the conflict is resolved soon so that people are not put to inconvenience,” Niranjan, an IT engineer said.
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