NWKRTC mulling over bus service to Hubballi Airport

Hubballi: Along the lines of the ‘Vayu Vajra’ bus service in Bengaluru, allowing air passengers to commute to and from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) is contemplating introducing similar services in the twin cities. NWKRTC officials are currently waiting for a report on the feasibility and viability of such a project.
NWKRTC Hubballi division controller, Vivekanand Vishwajanya said that the Aerodrome Advisory Committee had approached him to discuss the possibility of operating buses to and from the airport. “We are keeping an open mind about the proposal. We will discuss the proposal with the government, and other stakeholders,” he said.
Although buses had been operated between Hubballi Airport and localities across the twin cities, the service was suspended owing to poor response. Vishwajanya pointed to the importance of getting all the logistics right before re-introducing the service. “Firstly, we must get an estimate on the number of passengers likely to use the buses, both to, and from the airport. Other operational issues too need to be considered, such as parking at the airport terminal, the amount of time we can afford to have a bus stuck at the terminal should a flight get delayed, among others,” he said.
Member of Aerodrome Advisory Committee Kaustub Saunshikar said, “We approached the director of the Hubballi Airport with the proposal to introduce bus services, since we are eager to provide all possible facilities to ease and enhance passenger experience. The director warmed to the idea, and said that he had no objections to buses operating from the airport. He did, however, suggest that we assess the demand for such a service, given the limited number of flights being operated at the airport.”
Hubballi-based businessman and activist Anil Desai opined that, if NWKRTC were to roll out buses to the airport, they must be operated from one point, such as Gokul Road. “Passengers from the twin cities account only for 10% of those heading to or returning from the airport. So, it would be best if the authorities operate the buses from a centralised point, such as the main bus stop,” Desai said.
Sausnhikar, however, said that, once more flights started operations at the airport, ridership on the buses too would register an increase.