Puttur: MLA Ashok Kumar Rai flags off non-stop KSRTC bus to Mangaluru, promises city bus services soon

Puttur: MLA Ashok Kumar Rai flags off non-stop KSRTC bus to Mangaluru, promises city bus services soon

Mangalore Today News Network

Puttur, July 15, 2025: Ashok Kumar Rai, Puttur MLA, on Monday, said he will ensure that the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operates city buses in Puttur soon.

Speaking after flagging off the Puttur-Mangaluru (State Bank of India) non-stop services of the KSRTC at Puttur, Mr. Rai said the growing town was in need of an adequate public transport system, particularly for students. He said that he would hold discussions with officials and civil society representatives on the routes where KSRTC needs to operate city services and ensure the services are launched in the subsequent days.

The Puttur-Mangaluru (State Bank of India)-Puttur non-stop service was a long-cherished dream of residents of Puttur, who wanted a speedy connectivity to the district headquarters. Although the present Puttur-State Bank of India services are express ones, due to en-route halts at important places, the journey time extends over two hours. Hundreds of people travel every day between Puttur and Mangaluru for various purposes, and the non-stop service would aid their travel, he said.

Mr. Rai said the services would take the flyover route without entering the towns of Kalladka, Melkar and Panemangaluru. Thus, the approximate distance of 52 km could be covered within an hour, he said. KSRTC has deployed brand new coaches for the non-stop service, which would do 60 single (31 to Mangaluru and 29 to Puttur) trips every day.

Park and travel

People travelling by car, etc., could park their vehicles at bus stations and travel by the non-stop service, thereby contributing to national savings, he added.

While people criticised the KSRTC for deficient services, lack of adequate number of buses on particular routes, etc., they should also compliment the corporation when it responds to their long-pending demands, the MLA said.

The first non-stop service from Puttur starts at 7 a.m., and the last one would be at 7.30 p.m., with buses operating at a frequency of about 20 minutes, except during the non-peak hours. In all, 31 single trips would be made on this route. The first service from Mangaluru State Bank to Puttur starts at 5.50 a.m., and the last one would be at 6.20 p.m., with the corporation ensuring 29 single trips on the route, according to KSRTC.