Mangalore: Bus Workers’ Opposes Nationalization of Private Bus Routes


Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SN/CN)

Mangalore, Nov 5: The district Bus Workers’ Association has reacted sharply against the statement by transport minister R Ashok where he said that private bus routes should be nationalized and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) should start services in the city and the undivided Dakshina Kannada district.

Speaking at the press conference, Ivan D’Souza, president, Bus Workers’ Association, said that there was no need for government buses in the city as private buses provided good service. He added that such a decision by the government will endanger the livelihood of nearly 3,500 workers in the private bus transport sector.

D’ Souza further added that the KSRTC is incurring a loss of Rs 500 crore and cannot cope up with the needs of the public. He accused the transport minister of creating unnecessary confusion by announcing such proposals.

The Association will never allow the private bus route to be nationalized. Severe protests will be conducted if the minister does not take back his words, warned D’Souza. General secretary Jayaraj Jappina Mogaru, and Gururaj Pumpwell, were present at the meet.

  

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  • Roshan Shetty, Bangalore/Udipi

    Wed, Nov 12 2008

    People who are supporting govt buses in DK and udipi districts, have you ever travelled in an govt bus in bangalore or for that matter any city in karnataka... do you think the conductors or drivers are any better than those poor souls driving those private bus in those most pathetic roads, govt buses never meet with an accident is it...??? being a mangalorean I am i really proud to say tat DK and udipi district has the best private transport I have ever seen...go to places like karwar..you jus have a handful of buses. whereras in our place you have buses to every nook n corner of the district... as far as rash driving is concerned.. just see how the NH 17 is.. anybody driving in that road would be on the verge of going mad... improve the roads and please do not disturb the existing private bus network in DK and udipi

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  • Vishal D'Souza, Mangalore / Bangalore

    Thu, Nov 06 2008

    Mr. Ivan D'Souza, can you please concentrate on the bad roads which are in deteriorating condition & the work is progressing in turtle's speed, can you hold a protest instead of this??? You will not do that. In India each & everything has become vote bank politics.. So how can we move forward with these politicians??? Educated politicans are worst than illiterate politicians...

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  • Ashley Machado, Mangalore

    Thu, Nov 06 2008

    Mr Ivan - So what if KSRTC is on loss and thier inability to provide good service? Its thier headache and not yours.. Thier service may not be exceptionally fast transport(they ply at the sane speeds where your private buses ply like race cars on a 10ft wide two way road) Have you ever looked in to your own association?? Commuting in a private bus is a nightmare, abusive drivers and conductors, buses starting off before passengers boarding,reckless competition and speeding, unwanted pickup stops disrupting moving traffic..

    It all adds up to your short sightedness and inability to curb the menace.. And of course your 3500 staff members can get in as KSRTC staff.  Every problem has a implementable solution.. Well if you ever read this and disagree to the facts, you would want to take a ride on your private buses or better ride/drive to a an oncoming private bus.. Its a good move and i support it however indecisive it may be..

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  • Alex Saldanha, Mangaluru/Sydney-Australia

    Thu, Nov 06 2008

    We welcome the idea of putting KSRTC buses on city cirlcle in DK district, private buses on M'lore city roads have been running for many years now, they cause lot of traffic jam, accidents, they treat passengers like animals with harsh talk and rude manner, these buses don't even care for the safety of the passengers and public.

    What is Mr. Ivan D'Souza talking about, , if he is so concerned about job loss for Private bus employees, let him fight to get them jobs with these replaced KSRTC Buses, only after they have been well trained with customer service. Transport Minister is doing a right thing, and I'm very sure this is going to happen by early next year. As i always said BJP Govt has done some terrific things in their short period of 5 months in office, at the same time they have done some terrible things in indirectly supporting church attacks.

    If they leave their communal ideology, they can be very good for Karnataka, at least far better than Congress or JD (S)

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  • Rahul, Panaji, Goa

    Thu, Nov 06 2008

    Mr. Ivan DSouza, Are you concerned about the public of Mangalore and their votes or the Bus lobby? It is a well known fact that congress is doing badly in the elections is due to its nexus between various lobbies including bus lobby.

    Here is the super fine EXAMPLE of a politician who fights for bus owners but in the guise of saving the jobs of bus workers!! If you are a true leader, fight for the workers to get jobs in KSRTC buses. Let them be on probationary basis and after a year those who do their jobs well can be made permanent. I dont think you will do that - because of your nexus between the bus owners. private bus employee are just to be used!

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  • Lancelot N. Tauro, Manglore - Doha qatar

    Thu, Nov 06 2008

    Instead of nationalizing pvt bus route, better to train educate all the drivers conductors including attendant (bus operators) safety hazard, descipline and behaviour with the passengers. Bega bega hatthiri, Kamba bittu munde hogira, Jeppule jeppule bega bega, right poiyee, Reckless drivings, noise pollution by horning in loud should be stopped first.

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  • Winston D'Souza, Mangalore

    Thu, Nov 06 2008

    When i was travelling in a private bus which is plying thro' Mangalore to kinnigoli via Kateel. When this speeding bus reached near Kateel church one of the Truck which is carrying mud with it's driver from some north Karnataka or Bijapur coming in opposite direction, this bus driver started abusing him for no fault of that lorry driver, stopped the bus, went to lorry drivers seat kicked him at his seat itself,pulled him down,hit him badly even the conductor joined him.

    The way they hit the driver I'm really ashamed of this driver & conductor only to glorify their act in front of some ladies in the bus. Sad thing is lorry driver dead instantly within days due to bleeding in the head. Can anyone justify this cruel act for no fault of that lorry driver???? This is just a single example which happenes in hundreds in twin districts in a day.

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  • manu dubai, m'lore

    Wed, Nov 05 2008

    While our great union leader travelling in airconditioned car, why he cant make statements that they will go on strike and all. If he travel by private bus then only he will realize what is the risk involved in travelling by pvt.busses. Always it is difficult to be practical.Easy to make statements..

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  • Patrick D'Souza, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 05 2008

    There Chidambaram talks about privatisation and devolution of Government stake in PSUs to improve efficiency and profitability. Our Karnataka Transport minister talks of introducing Nationalisation of Bus routes & services. One country conflicting decisions & opinions on identical subjects. Instead, if the Karnataka Goverment believes in fair play, let it have the guts to compete with the Private Bus Services in Mangalore. Let the people of Mangalore have the choice.

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  • S Salian, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 05 2008

    Mr. Ivan D`Souza,your concern for the 3500 workers associated with the private bus operators is well appreciated. But have you ever thought about the bad services of some of the workers , and because of them the image of private bus is getting tarnished.Once we were proud of our city bus service but now a days some of the operators are so rude that they hardly give attention to the passengers.They should first remember that the passengers are not beggars and that they should be given due respect. But once the passengers are inside , the bus staff takes them for a real ride with their rude behaviour and reckless driving.

    They are also a threat to other vehicle users on the road. If now the people of Mangalore are welcoming the remarks of our Transport Minister it is becuase they are fed up of the private bus system. Dear Mr. Ivan , if you want the job for 3500 workers please instruct them to behave in a civilised manner with the passengers and let the public make a move to oppose the government buses.Otherwise if the public wants government buses no body can stop it.

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  • Capt. Mascarenhas, Mumbai

    Wed, Nov 05 2008

    What about the accidents/deaths caused by wreckless driving. Who is accoutable or responsible for the deaths alomost everyday.

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  • Purushottama, Byndoor

    Wed, Nov 05 2008

    Any system exists for the public and not for the workers. the workers may demand priority in appointments ( if their service records are maintained by the present owners). KSRTC pays its salary as per law . A study of the repsonses in the Daijiworld itself is an indication that vast majority are in support of the proposal as such the threat that "we will never allow the nationalisation" seems to be undemocratic that too from people who are active in the democratic process like elections!

    The best they can do is to demand priority in appointments in the new set up for the displaced persons. In Bangalore they are very well run with many pass options for daily/weekly/monthly commuters. They dont throw passengers from the bus even before they get down saying " Bega! Bega! Jepuule" like here in Mangalore. The entire system being under one management there will not be madness of each bus overtaking the other and other road users may feel safe.They issue proper tickets - unlike small coloured slips without any details being thrown at passengers as in Mangalore.As a consumer you can prove that you have utilised their services if you hold a ticket in case something goes wrong.Cost wise they are more affordable.

    They run buses even on routes considered not profitable. In Mangalore there are few villages where the private operators have taken permits but buses are not being run! So much for their social responsibility.They dont stop buses anywhere and everywhere like here but stop only at designated bus stops. More than anything they can be made accountable to the public as per their service regulations which is impossible here.

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