NewsKarnataka-Karkala

Karkala : The residents of Guddeyangady located in between Karkala and Udupi are now planning an agitation in protest against the failure of the Regional Transport Authority to settle the  impasse over bus fares since the past few years.

For a distance of 19 kms between Karkala and Guddeyangady, the fare is Rs 21, while for  an equal distance from Guddeyangady to Udupi the fare is Rs 20. As per orders of the RTO on April 2, 2013, the fare between Udupi t Guddeyangady was fixed at Rs 17 but of no avail.

The complaint is that the bus crew collected fares in accordance to their whims and fancies though as per rule they can charge only Rs 17 for Stage 3  between 13.1 km and 19.5 kms.

On June 6,  a private bus conductor charged Rs 9 to  a local resident Prashanth Pai  from Guddeyangady to Bailur though the fixed fare is Rs 7. Pai has already lodged a complaint with Hiriadka police seeking action.

The allegation of the villagers is that the Regional Transport Authorities have succumbed to private bus lobby, Even Prashanth Pai  alleges  that   that the authorities have even tampered with the  sign board (milestone) on the roadside which now mentions the distance between Udupi to Guddeyangady as 20 kms instead of the earlier 19 kms.