Karnataka   

Bangalore-Mysore Expressway blocked

Shankar Bennur

KSRTC operates services via Malavalli and Kanakapura

MANDYA: With protests against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal order continuing in Mandya and adjoining towns, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) chose to operate its services between Mysore and Bangalore via Malavalli and Kanakapura. The corporation took this step as the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway is being blocked at various places by the agitators.

On Thursday, the usually busy expressway turned into a kitchen with women from farmers' families cooking food there to feed the agitators, throwing traffic out of gear.

Though the highway was open for vehicular traffic till Thursday morning, it was out of bounds after the agitating farmers, who brought huge vessels and groceries, took over the highway at Halaboodanur, about 10 km from Mandya, and started cooking food.

The farmers' protest secured support from other sections too, also some tourists.

Even while having food they raised slogans against the tribunal.

To avoid inconvenience to the public, KSRTC resumed its services on a different route — via Kanakapura — as suspension of services to Bangalore via Mandya had caused hardships to travellers. KSRTC Divisional Controller Ashok Kumar told The Hindu that regular services had been resumed to Bangalore via Malavalli and Kanakapura.

"We have withdrawn Volvo and Rajahamsa services, but operating express buses on the route," he said.

On an average, KSRTC buses, including Volvo and Rajahamsa, make 600 trips between the two cities.

The trips dropped by at least 20 to 30 per cent owing to suspension of services. "Now that we have resumed services on a different route, the buses will make 400 trips every day on the Kanakapura route," he added.

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