Pre-paid autos from railway station, KSRTC bus stand from Oct 2

September 29, 2011

Mangalore, September 29: The pre-paid autorickshaw service will start in the Central Railway Station and the KSRTC Bus stand in Lalbagh from October 2, informed Deputy Commissioner Dr N S Channappa Gowda.

Speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of the Regional Transport Authority meet held to discuss the hike in auto fare at the DC's office on Wednesday, the Deputy Commissioner said that the district administration and the KCCI is ready with the facilities including the software required for starting the pre-paid system. The pre-paid system which was introduced twice earlier in 2005 and 2008 was halted due to the improper management.

“The system will be introduced in the Central Railway Station and the KSRTC Bus Stand on October 2 and it would be started in Kankanady Junction after 15 days. The long pending demand of the public will be fulfilled with the introduction of the system,” he said.

Demand for meter hike

Earlier in the meeting, the auto rickshaw drivers and the owners demanded for the hike in auto rickshaw fare. Speaking on behalf of the auto drivers, Federation of Karnataka Auto rickshaw Drivers Union (FKADU) General Secretary L T Suvarna demanded for the revision of the current auto fair. He said that the minimum price of auto rickshaw which is Rs 15 at present should be hiked to Rs 18. “There has been hike in petrol, tyre prices, garage charges and insurance amount in the last one year. Therefore, auto fare hike is must for the survival of the auto rickshaw owners,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, Vishnumoorthy from the Auto rickshaw Owners Co-ordinating Committee insisted that minimum price should be somewhere between Rs 18 to Rs 21.

“The auto drivers outside Mangalore city, who do not have meters in their autos, charge minimum Rs 20. They are making bucks illegally. On the other hand, the auto drivers in Mangalore are finding it difficult to run their autos with soaring prices of goods and services,” he said.

One of the auto drivers also asked the Deputy Commissioner not to take the auto drivers for a ride if they carry one or two extra passengers.

The service buses are always overcrowded and carry passengers exceeding the limit. When nothing is done on that, why target only the auto drivers, asked an auto driver.

The Deputy Commissioner said that he would take the decision after considering the plight of the general public and the auto fares in other districts.

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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