Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada Regional Transport Authority on Thursday granted permission to KSRTC to provide bus services between Mangaluru Central Railway Station and the International Airport, which is located in Bajpe via the central parts of the city.

During the RTA meeting, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim asked the Corporation to consider operating air conditioned buses on the route to cater to airport passengers. He said, “the passengers are now forced to shell out exorbitant amounts to travel by taxis and the bus service will be helpful to them”.

The Authority also granted permission to KSRTC to operate buses between Mangaluru Central Railway Station and Bajpe town. Both services would run via A.B. Shetty Circle, Light House Hill, KSRTC Bus Station and Kavoor. Ibrahim asked KSRTC to obtain timings from the Regional Transport Officer for these services as well as other services for which permits were granted during previous meetings and commence operations at the earliest.

When private operators raised several objections for KSRTC’s applications, social activist G. Hanumanth Kamath asked the RTA to give preferential treatment to the Corporation since it is discharging various social responsibilities too. “You also give permits to private operators and let there be healthy competition. People would choose the right operator,” he said.

Superintendent of Police Sharanappa and RTO Afzal Ahmed Khan were present.