BC Road Commuters, Auto-Drivers in tizzy as police department suspends buses on service road
Bantwal: Local police has imposed ban on Government and Private buses from commuting on the service road in Bantwal, calling for protests and criticism from Passengers and Auto-Drivers.
The local police on March 12 had instructed the bus drivers without any prior notice to not commute through service road. The move had caused confusion and anguish among the locals for the sudden role out of the order.
The order had asked the bus drivers to commute through the fly-over and not through service road. The earlier route of the buses was through the service road towards private bus stand. However, the order issued by police instructed the drivers to commute through fly-over and halt near KSRTC bus stop.
Meanwhile, the auto-rickshaw drivers had also protested over the order claiming that it will impact their passenger count. PSI Sudhakar who was handling the matter had promised to provide three auto-rickshaw stands near the KSRTC bus stop.
Inconvenience to commuters:
The move had led to causing inconvenience to the commuters who earlier used to get down at service road/ private bus junction and would take auto to visit different vicinities and landmarks including court, police station, MESCOM, Agriculture, Horticulture department and other. The move will require them to get down on either of the two ends of the fly-over and walk towards their respective destinations.
Additional SP, Saidul Adavath, speaking on the matter added that the protests from the auto-drivers will be sorted through negotiations and separate auto-rickshaw stands will be provided near the KSRTC bus stand. He said the department will soon find solutions to the problems being faced by auto-drivers.
Shamsuddin, Auto-Driver’s union Vice President, added that the promises made by the police department should be fulfilled at the earliest failing which the union will protest against it.
“The public is not happy with the order, senior police officials don’t know our ordeal while they take decisions sitting in their offices. There was no problem in buses running on service road. It was helpful for us. The department should immediately revoke the order” Vasanth Kumar, a daily commuter of the bus on BC Road said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CM Siddaramaiah meets PM Modi, seeks urgent clearances for two irrigation projects
New Delhi (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting rectification in short term farm loan limit, Rs 10,000 cr in financial support and urgent clearances for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Kalasa Bandhuri projects.
In the meeting in Parliament complex, Siddarmaiah pressed for several key interventions focusing on critical areas, including agriculture, water resources and urban infrastructure.
Deputy Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister D K Shivakumar, Energy Minister K J George and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh accompanied the CM for the meeting.
The chief minister highlighted that NABARD has drastically cut the Short Term Agricultural Credit Limit for Karnataka from Rs 5,600 crore in 2023-24 to just Rs 2,340 crore in 2024-25, a 58 per cent reduction that could severely impact farmers' access to soft loans.
"I request you to look into this and direct the Finance Ministry to rectify this situation so that farmers in Karnataka continue to receive soft agricultural loans," Siddarmaiah said in a representation made to the PM.
He requested Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project, which promises to irrigate central Karnataka's drought-prone farmlands. The project has been pending since the 2023-24 Union Budget.
He also pushed for clearances of two critical water projects - the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir on the Kaveri river and the Kalasa Bandhuri project on the Mahadayi river -- both awaiting approvals from the Jal Shakti and Environment Ministries.
Highlighting Bengaluru's status as a tech hub and top GDP contributor, the state requested special assistance for urban and public transportation.
Additionally, Karnataka sought Rs 10,000 cr to develop infrastructure in 13 emerging city corporations.
On fiscal allocation, the CM complained of receiving an unfavourable deal from the 15th Finance Commission, which reduced its tax share by 1 per cent.
Siddaramaiah urged the government to provide compensation grants and ensure future finance commissions do not penalise states with significant tax contributions.
The Karnataka chief minister also met Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and congratulated her on being elected as an MP from Wayanad.
