TUMAKURU : With 40% of villages in Pavagada taluk not having public bus services, private bus operators compete with each other, resulting in overspeeding and overcrowding, say locals.
Sogadu Venkatesh, former president of Pavagada taluk panchayat, said villages are completely dependent on private buses. There are 214 villages in the taluk. He termed the spot an accident zone and said drivers are expected to ride more carefully on the stretch. Stating that many small accidents keep occurring here, he said: “Twelve years ago, a bus accident killed 17 people and injured more than 20. ”
E Hanumantharaya, divisional controller, KSRTC (Chitradurga division), said: “A total of 42 KSRTC buses of Pavagada depot ply in the taluk and we still have to provide buses to 60 villages. Buses from Nelamangala and Madhugiri depots also ply in the taluk. ” Regular passengers said private bus drivers are under pressure to earn maximum revenue on the route. The fact that they stop at almost all the villages makes them a more reliable — in terms of finding transport from their own villages — option for passengers.
“In order to earn more, they need to do additional trips and get passengers on each trip. Naturally, there is overspeeding and overloading,” one commuter said.
Cheaper tickets
Pothaganahalli Mallappaa farmer, who was on the bus involved in the accident, said several passengers had urged the driver to slow down. On why they prefer private buses, he said: “The bus fare from IN Hosakore to Pavagada in private bus is Rs 15 compared to Rs 30 in a government bus. Also, on many private buses, the conductors drop us off at our stops even if we pay slightly less than the fare. ”
Compensation for kin
Transport minister B Sriramulu, after inspecting the accident spot and visiting hospitals in Pavagada, announced compensation for the victims. The government will give Rs 5 lakh each to families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for those who sustained injuries. Sriramulu will personally give Rs 50,000 each to families of the dead.
Sogadu Venkatesh, former president of Pavagada taluk panchayat, said villages are completely dependent on private buses. There are 214 villages in the taluk. He termed the spot an accident zone and said drivers are expected to ride more carefully on the stretch. Stating that many small accidents keep occurring here, he said: “Twelve years ago, a bus accident killed 17 people and injured more than 20. ”
E Hanumantharaya, divisional controller, KSRTC (Chitradurga division), said: “A total of 42 KSRTC buses of Pavagada depot ply in the taluk and we still have to provide buses to 60 villages. Buses from Nelamangala and Madhugiri depots also ply in the taluk. ” Regular passengers said private bus drivers are under pressure to earn maximum revenue on the route. The fact that they stop at almost all the villages makes them a more reliable — in terms of finding transport from their own villages — option for passengers.
“In order to earn more, they need to do additional trips and get passengers on each trip. Naturally, there is overspeeding and overloading,” one commuter said.
Cheaper tickets
Pothaganahalli Mallappaa farmer, who was on the bus involved in the accident, said several passengers had urged the driver to slow down. On why they prefer private buses, he said: “The bus fare from IN Hosakore to Pavagada in private bus is Rs 15 compared to Rs 30 in a government bus. Also, on many private buses, the conductors drop us off at our stops even if we pay slightly less than the fare. ”
Compensation for kin
Transport minister B Sriramulu, after inspecting the accident spot and visiting hospitals in Pavagada, announced compensation for the victims. The government will give Rs 5 lakh each to families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for those who sustained injuries. Sriramulu will personally give Rs 50,000 each to families of the dead.