In light of the escalating Maratha reservation agitation in Maharashtra, Karnataka has taken the decision to temporarily halt all bus services to the neighboring state. The suspension is intended to safeguard passengers and prevent damage to buses in the event of potential attacks by the protestors. To minimize inconvenience for travelers heading to Maharashtra, Karnataka is operating buses up to the interstate border, allowing passengers to continue their journeys into the neighboring state from there.
The recent wave of the Maratha quota agitation has witnessed incidents of vandalism and arson against buses from various states, including Karnataka. In response to these security concerns, Karnataka has made the decision to suspend bus services to Maharashtra. The decision follows a specific incident earlier this week when a bus from the Balki depot in Bidar district was set ablaze.
Ganesh Rathod, the Divisional Controller of North West Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (NWKSRTC), highlighted the significance of allowing hassle-free travel for people who have relatives in both Karnataka and Maharashtra, particularly during the festive season. The arrangement to operate buses up to the border has been established through mutual understanding between the two states and is activated during situations like the current one.
One of the key incidents that led to this decision was a mob attack on a Karnataka bus in Latur district. During the attack, passengers and bus staff were targeted, windshields were shattered, and the bus was set on fire. Such incidents have justified the suspension of bus services to Maharashtra, as officials work to ensure the safety of passengers and the protection of vehicles.
The East-West Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (EWKSRTC) has issued instructions to its staff in Maharashtra to relocate buses to nearby depots or police stations to safeguard passengers and prevent damage to the vehicles. Depots in Vijayapur, Bagalkot, Belagavi, and Chikkodi districts have temporarily ceased services to Maharashtra in light of the security concerns.
Before the suspension, divisions in Vijayapur and Bagalkot operated around 150 buses daily to destinations in Maharashtra, including Solhapur, Sangli, and Miraj. Belagavi and Chikkodi divisions, which suspended services from Thursday, were responsible for over 300 daily bus routes to major cities like Pune and Mumbai.
Passengers who had booked seats for travel to Maharashtra have had their fares refunded. Mohammed Fayaz, the Deputy Divisional Controller in Vijayapur, stated that services to not only long-distance places like Pune and Mumbai but also to locations on the Maharashtra border have been temporarily suspended.
Many individuals from Nippani, Chikkodi, and Raibag taluks in Belagavi district, which border Maharashtra, work in government and private sectors in Kolhapur, a commercial and industrial hub in southern Maharashtra. To reach their workplaces, they often park their vehicles near the border, cross on foot, and use vehicles waiting in Maharashtra.
The suspension of bus services to Maharashtra has also resulted in private bus operators raising fares, particularly for long-distance routes to cities like Mumbai and Pune. While private operators claim that fare hikes during holidays and festivals are standard practice, passengers have expressed concerns about the price increases.
Viresh Patil, a Pune resident working in Belagavi, criticized the private bus operators for taking advantage of the situation and charging significantly higher fares during school holidays, festivals, and similar scenarios. He and others believe that such fare hikes are unfair to travelers.
The situation remains dynamic, with travelers and private bus operators experiencing disruptions, and authorities working to address the security concerns during the ongoing Maratha quota agitation.
Sources By Agencies
