HUBLI: North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) may end up with a revenue loss of Rs. 10 crores this financial year because of the introduction of private bus services under the stage carriage system and misuse of contract carriage system by some private bus operators.

NWKRTC Managing Director E. Radhakrishna told presspersons here on Friday that lack of punitive action against the private bus operators, who violate the licence conditions of the contract carriage system, has encouraged them.

He has brought the issue to the notice of the Regional Transport Authority. Although action is being taken, it has failed to be a deterrent, he said.

Mr. Radhakrishna said NWKRTC incurred a loss of Rs. 60.2 crores in 2004-05. This year the loss is expected to come down to Rs. 10 crores. He said the corporation is not facing any major problem, and the employees are working efficiently. But the increase in diesel price and irregular services have contributed to the loss, he said. The services of private buses taken on contract basis by NWKRTC are not satisfactory. He said of the 550 private buses hired, the services of 150 buses are irregular.

Board meeting

Because of the model code of conduct in force owing to elections to zilla and taluk panchayats, Mr. Radhakrishna refused to give details about the future programmes of the corporation.

About the bus services between Hubli and Dharwad, he said the corporation has reduced 600 round trips to 540 after the introduction of Bendre City Transport. "But we plan to bring it back to the earlier number of round trips and introduce the services of 50 additional buses between the twin cities. We will induct new buses on the Hubli-Dharwad route as a step towards increasing the passengers' comfort," he said.

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