Mangaluru: J R Lobo moots shifting of KSRTC bus stand to Pumpwell

Mangaluru, Nov 5: Mangaluru City South MLA J R Lobo has mooted the idea of shifting the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stand from Bejai to Pumpwell.

Transport Minister Ramlinga Reddy, who was in the city on Friday to inaugurate the third depot of the KSRTC at Kuntikana for city buses sanctioned under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), too has promised to consider the demand “if the KSRTC gets land for free.”

Mr Lobo said that keeping the future in mind the KSRTC should purchase a land in Pumpwell, where a bus stand for private buses is also expected to come up soon. Shifting KSRTC bus stand will boost government's plan to develop Pumpwell as a transport hub.

“Outstation bound buses could be made to operate from Pumpwell. City buses could operate from Bejai or the existing Bejai bus stand could be converted as a depot or a commercial complex could be built there by the KSRTC,” he suggested, adding that there was a need to decongest the city in the coming years.

Replying to it, the Transport Minister said that the KSRTC was ready for shifting to Pumpwell provided the district administration gave free land. He said that he would ask the managing director of the KSRTC to examine whether it was possible to purchase land.

Mr. Lobo said that the KSRTC should conduct regional level recruitment for conductors and drivers and other staff of KSRTC. It was because a majority of staff members were from North Karnataka. They sought transfer immediately after their probation was declared leaving the vacancy to continue hampering local works. Mr. Lobo said that the KSRTC could take bonds from candidates from other regions that they would serve in the region for at least 25 years or close to their retirement.

Mr. Reddy said that the government had tried regional-level recruitment earlier. Not many candidates applied for those posts from the region. The government would once again invite applications at the regional level as it has proposed to have one more round of recruitment soon.

Mr. Lobo suggested the KSRTC to introduce more buses to prominent cities and towns of North Karnataka from Mangaluru. Many people from North Karnataka work in Mangaluru. But there was no proper connectivity especially over night buses, he added.