The Hindu : Karnataka News : New train gobbles up bus operators’ business

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

New train gobbles up bus operators’ business

Staff Reporter

KSRTC, private operators expect good revenue once the Shiradi Ghat is thrown open for bus traffic

KSRTC reports a 10 per cent loss in revenue every day
Private operators losing nearly 20 per cent of revenue every day

— Photo: R. Eswarraj

Preferred: A file picture of the people who had gathered near the Mangalore-Bangalore train which was flagged off on December 8.

BANGALORE: Despite the 12-hour journey, the newly launched passenger train service between Bangalore and Mangalore has reduced the demand for the 10-hour bus journey between the two cities.

While the State-owned Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has reported a 10 per cent loss in revenue every day, private tourist bus operators’ loss is roughly twice that.

Private operators run not less than 75 buses in this sector and another 75 on the lucrative Bangalore-Kozhikode and Bangalore-Kannur sectors. KSRTC operates 65 buses in the Bangalore-Mangalore sector.

KSRTC General Manager K.A. Rajkumar told The Hindu on Tuesday that the corporation was losing at least Rs. 1.5 lakh revenue a day after the new passenger train commenced its operation from December 8.

While the daily revenue prior to this launch was Rs. 48 lakh, it has come down to Rs. 46.5 lakh these days, he said.

Many private players, namely, CPC, Kamat, Pragati, Sugama, Durgamba, Sri Durgamba, Ballal and others are operating buses under All India Tourist Buses permit in this sector. One of the operators, who did not want to be identified, admitted that he has been losing nearly 20 per cent of revenue every day only because of the new train service.

However, both the KSRTC and the private operators expect to earn good revenue once the Shiradi Ghat is thrown open for bus traffic after its repair. Shiradi Ghat on NH 48, which was severely damaged due to rains and heavy lorry traffic, is undergoing repair and is likely to remain shut for several months.

While it is nearly a 12-hour journey between Bangalore and Mangalore by train, it is a 10-hour bus ride via Mysore and Madikeri and in some cases via Hassan, Mudigere, and Charmadi Ghat. It takes less than eight hours via Shiradi Ghat.

People in the coastal region — north Kerala, Udupi, Karwar and Goa — have been demanding rail connectivity with Bangalore.

The present passenger train (Yeshwanthpur-Mangalore Express) does not offer onward connections to north Kerala and North Coastal Karnataka. Also, there have been demands to operate passenger trains via Arsikere (the present service is via Mysore) to save two hours of journey time.

The Yeshwanthpur-Mangalore Express comprises one two-tier AC coach (46 berths), one three-tier AC coach (64 berths), six sleeper class coaches (432 berths), six general class coaches (540 seats) and two brake van-cum-luggage coaches (136 seats).

Thus, the train which can carry 1,218 passengers replaces nearly 30 luxury buses. All the berths in the air conditioned and sleeper class coaches are booked till January first week.

A senior railway official, however, said general compartments are not running full.

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