KSRTC to extend Airport Volvo bus services to central railway station

[email protected] (TNN, Photos by Ahmed Anwar)

July 29, 2011

Mangalore, July 29: Deputy commissioner and chairman of Regional Transport Authority (RTA) N S Channappa Gowda as a special case on Wednesday relaxed conditions in the district magistrates notification issued on April 6, 1993. This relaxation allows KSRTC to extend the Volvo bus services to the new integrated terminal building (NITB) of Mangalore airport to Mangalore central railway station. This Volvo bus service is currently operating from NITB of the airport to the main bus station of KSRTC at Bejai.

KSRTC had introduced two Volvo buses to the airport on July 15, but these buses were not entering the central business district area of the city due to deputy commissioner's notification of April 1993, which banned entry of buses, both government and private to State Bank of India terminus. Following this, KSRTC officials had moved the RTA to grant permission to extend the bus service to Mangalore central railway station.

Their request also had the backing of regional transport officer, who is the secretary of RTA. KSRTC Mangalore division authorities had told TOI on July 11, the day a decision to introduce buses to the airport from July 15 was taken at the quarterly review meeting of 20-point Karnataka Development Programme chaired by district in-charge minister J Krishna Palemar, that starting the Volvo bus service to the airport from its main bus station at Bejai would be counter-productive and not receive due patronage.

The DC in an official communique here stated that the KSRTC can operate the Volvo buses from the airport to central railway station via Kavoor, Bondel, Bejai, KSRTC, Lalbagh, PVS, Bunts Hostel Circle, Jyothi, Hampankatte (central railway station). In the return journey, the bus will traverse via K S Rao Road, P V S Circle, Bunts Hostel Circle, Jyothi Circle, St Agnes College, Mallikatte, Nanthoor, KPT, Bondel and Kavoor.

The relaxation, the DC stated, is applicable to only two Volvo buses of KSRTC, which is operating four round trips from NITB and the city. C Yeshwanath Kumar, in-charge divisional controller told TOI that KSRTC is eying at air passengers coming from Kasargod. Some of them come by train and a pick up point at central railway station will be useful to them, he said, adding that KSRTC could provide connectivity to the airport service to passengers coming by its Volvo service operating to Kasargod as well. The initial response to the service has not been encouraging, but has long term potential of attracting and serving passengers, Yeshwanth pointed.

"If the occupancy level goes up, we can ask our central head office to give us Volvo buses with luggage carriers," he said, adding that KSRTC has a fleet of nearly 200 such buses operating in Bangalore and Mysore and upgrading services locally to meet exclusive needs of air passengers will not be an issue. Inquiries from people to this service is heartwarming, he pointed.

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Stranded, hungry, and helpless: Last-minute cancellation of Dammam flight sparks chaos at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

November 24,2025

Mangaluru, Nov 24: The original departure time of 11.10 pm was a distant memory for scores of Dammam-bound passengers at Mangaluru International Airport last Friday night, as their Air India Express flight was abruptly cancelled at the eleventh hour, sparking hours of frustration and chaos.

The flight, IX 885, initially scheduled to depart at 11.10 pm on November 22, was subject to two back-to-back reschedules—first pushed to 11.45 pm and then significantly postponed to 1.40 am—before the final, crushing announcement of cancellation was made. For the travellers, many of whom are likely expatriate workers with tight schedules, the last-minute change marked the beginning of a distressing ordeal.

"There was no drinking water, no food, and absolutely no proper guidance. We were left stranded like refugees," complained a stranded passenger.

According to multiple passenger accounts, the airline's ground staff failed to provide adequate support or essential amenities following the cancellation. Complaints poured in about the total absence of drinking water, food provisions, and any reliable guidance from the carrier's representatives. Travellers alleged they were left stranded for a considerable period, with no immediate arrangements or clear communication offered regarding accommodation or alternative travel to send them back home.

The incident has highlighted serious concerns over the carrier's contingency planning and customer service protocols during flight disruptions at one of India's key international gateways. The airline is yet to issue a comprehensive statement addressing the alleged lapse in passenger care.

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