HUBBALLI: Although the new bus terminal at Hosur in Hubballi, equipped with the latest technology and facilities, was inaugurated amid much pomp recently, passengers in the twin cities are much upset with the lack of ready information on the schedule of operations, leading to many of them missing buses.
There is much confusion among the public about the availability of buses at each stand, and lack of adequate buses operated between the three terminals has compounded their problems. In addition to missing buses, many commuters, often boarding buses in a hurry to inquire the final destination, find themselves stranded far from home, forced to disembark at the wrong terminal.
Arjun Vijhar resident Krishna Tomar recalled how, on going to the Old Bus Stand to board a bus to Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district, he found that vehicles to the temple town were operating from the New Bus Stand. “Thankfully, I boarded a bus bound for the New Bus Stand and was able to reach Sirsi. I am not a regular traveller and some of us are unaware of the schedule of buses from all three new terminals,” Tomar said.
Residents of villages around the twin cities too are struggling to cope with the altered situation. Annigeri resident Ningappa Aledalli said that, boarding buses at the Old Bus Stand in the Central Business District of Hubballi, had been much more convenient for them. “Now, to board buses bound to other districts, we have to first catch a bus either to the New Bus Stand or the one in Hosur. For instance, I had to board a bus from the Old Bus Stand to New Bus Stand to catch a bus to Karwar. I was informed that Karwar-bound buses also ply from the terminal in Hosur, but most passengers suggested against going there,” he said.
‘Services will be stopped from Old Bus Stand’
North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) Hubballi division controller H Ramangoudar admitted to confusion prevailing among the commuters regarding the schedule. “Services will be stopped from the Old Bus Stand next week,” he said.
Ramangoudar said that the Hosur Bus Terminal would be the centre of operations for buses bound for Gadag, Vijayapura, Raichur, Kalaburagi, in addition to rural and suburban services, while those bound for Karwar, Bengaluru, Belagavi and Goa would ply from the New Bus Stand. There are plans to set up a helpline to clear the confusion and ensure all information is available on our website, he said.