Karnataka - Bangalore

Pact with Kerala on bus services

BANGALORE: The Karnataka and Kerala State Road Transport Corporations on Monday signed an inter-State reciprocal transport agreement for additional bus services between the two States in the presence of Karnataka Transport Minister R. Ashok and his Kerala counterpart Mathew T. Thomas.

Under the new agreement, coming after a gap of ten years, Karnataka will operate an additional 86 buses for 32 new services and Kerala will run 65 buses for 30 new services between the two States.

Mr. Thomas hailed the agreement as an Onam gift to the people of Kerala.

Mr. Ashok said he would consider Kerala’s request to reduce the special permit tax levied on private buses bringing students on study tours and tourists to Karnataka.

The agreement provides for operating new services daily from Bangalore to Ernakulam via Mysore, Gudalur and Nilambur; Bangalore to Munnar; Bangalore to Payyanur; Mysore to Payyanur; Madikeri to Kozhikode; Mangalore to Kasaragod; Hassan to Ernakulam; Nagamangala to Thalaserry; Dharmasthala to Kasaragod; Subramanya to Manjeswar; and Madikeri to Sultan Bathery.

Mr. Ashok said 15 buses would be operated during festivals such as Dasara, Onam, Deepavali, Christmas and New Year, 15 buses during the summer and 27 buses during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season to meet additional demand.

For the first time, the North-west Karnataka Road Transport Corporation will introduce services to Kerala on the Karwar-Kozhikode, Karwar-Kasaragod and Hubli-Kannur routes.

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