KSRTC buses to MIA to be flagged off on Nov 1

Mangaluru: After much dilly-dallying, the KSRTCMangaluru division has finally decided to launch the long-awaited KSRTC low-floor air-conditioned Volvo bus service to the Mangaluru International Airport, from November 1.
According to KSRTC officials, the delay was due to permit issues, and it has been solved at the moment. The groundwork to start the services began in June. Rajesh Shetty, divisional controller, KSRTC, Mangaluru, said that as per the current plans, Volvo buses will ply from Mangaluru Central Railway Station and Manipal to Mangaluru International Airport. The earlier plan to operate the buses from Ullal, Kinnigoli and Mangaldevi has been shelved, due to operational reasons. We will be launching the service on November 1, he said.
On the delay in the launch of the service, Shetty said that KSRTC, Mangaluru division, had requested the Mangaluru RTO to change their existing Manipal to Mangaluru permit, to the Manipal-Udupi-Kuloor-MIA route. However, Mangaluru RTO rejected the proposal, and asked KSRTC to apply through the Udupi RTO. “As there was no provision, we applied for a fresh permit between Manipal-Udupi-Kuloor-MIA. The permit is already approved, and now we are preparing a timetable and fare calculation for the service. A total of three buses out of four sanctioned low-floor air-conditioned Volvo buses, will operate,” said Shetty, adding that KSRTC is mulling starting a direct Kasaragod-MIA service in the coming days. “Since it is an interstate service, we need to go through more formalities, and it will be done by our head office in Bengaluru.”
Sources from MIA added that they have granted permission to KSRTC, for free parking and other amenities.
The long-pending demand for direct bus service to MIA came alive, after transport minister B Sriramulu directed the department officials to consider the service on priority.