The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : New pact on bus services signed

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Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

New pact on bus services signed

Special Correspondent

States review pact after a gap of 10 years

Karnataka to operate 32 new services
Kerala to run 30 new services

BANGALORE: The Karnataka and Kerala State Road Transport Corporations on Monday signed an inter-State reciprocal transport agreement for additional bus services between the two States in the presence of Karnataka Transport Minister R. Ashok and his Kerala counterpart Mathew T. Thomas.

Under the new agreement, coming after a gap of ten years, Karnataka will operate an additional 86 buses for 32 new services and Kerala will run 65 buses for 30 new services between the two States.

Hailing the agreement as an Onam gift to the people of Kerala, Mr. Thomas thanked Mr. Ashok for facilitating the signing of the agreement.

Mr. Ashok said he would consider Kerala’s request to reduce the special permit tax levied on private buses bringing students on study tours and other tourists to Karnataka.

Mr. Thomas requested Karnataka to review the situation after six months and sign a comprehensive agreement instead of waiting for a long period and making piecemeal arrangements.

New services

The agreement provides for operating new services daily from Bangalore to Ernakulam via Mysore, Gudalur and Nilambur; Bangalore to Munnar; Bangalore to Payyannur; Mysore to Payyannur; Madikeri to Kozhikode; Mangalore to Kasaragod; Hassan to Ernakulam; Nagamangala to Thalassery; Dharmasthala to Kasaragod; Subramanya to Manjeswaram; and Madikeri to Sultan Bathery.

Mr. Ashok said 15 buses would be operated during festivals such as Dasara, Onam, Deepavali, Christmas and New Year, 15 buses during the summer and 27 buses during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season to meet additional demand.

For the first time, the North-west Karnataka Road Transport Corporation will introduce services to Kerala on the Karwar-Kozhikode, Karwar-Kasaragod and Hubli-Kannur routes.

New services from Kerala will operate from Thiruvananthapuram, Kalpetta, Sultan Bathery, Kozhikode and Munnar to Bangalore; Perinthalmanna, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Kottayam to Bangalore; Kasaragod-Bangalore; Thottipalam-Bangalore; Kannur-Bangalore; Thalassery-Bangalore; and Payyannur-Bangalore.

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