Contractors wave black flags at Minister V K Ebrahim

August 10, 2014

Kasaragod, Aug 10: A group of contractors from the district waved black flags at Public Works Minister VK Ebrahim Kunju here on Saturday in protest against the delay in clearing their dues for executed works.

The incident occurred shortly after the Minister alighted from a train at the Kasaragod railway station in the morning.

The contractors had reached the railway station to submit a memorandum to the Minister to sort out issues faced by them and they waved black flags and raised slogans warning of intensified protests in future.

A large posse of police present at the spot prevented the situation from going out of control.

A visibly upset Minister, who was here to take part in a few functions, left the spot in haste without accepting the memorandum from the protesting contractors.

The contractors executing the Public Works and Irrigation departments' works were demanding steps to clear Rs. 2.75-crore arrears due to them besides rolling back of the unlawful' tax slabs enforced on them.

The joint agitation committee of the government contractors has been on a warpath since August 1 and were boycotting the quotation and tender requisition process.

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Mangaluru’s public transport revolution: 100 new govt electric buses to end private ‘trip-cutting’

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

• Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

• State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

• Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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