Mysuru: With State-run bus Corporations, including Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Mysore City Transport Division (MCTD), deploying their buses for election duty, regular bus services are  likely to be affected today and tomorrow.

Bus services was partially hit this morning across the city and district besides neighbouring Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Kodagu districts as the State-run Road Transport Corporations has deployed more than 460 buses for election duty.  Passengers were seen stranded in City and Suburban Bus Stands due to scanty bus services.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, District Traffic Officer Marigowda said that KSRTC has deployed more than 460 buses including 213 city buses for poll duty. City buses are deployed to pick and drop poll officials to their designated polling booths in all the three Assembly segments — Chamaraja, Krishnaraja and  Narasimharaja, besides neighbouring T. Narasipur, Nanjangud and villages of Chamundeshwari Assembly segments.

He said that KSRTC has provided 3,314 buses from its fleet of 8,705 buses in the State for the election to be held tomorrow. Steps have been taken to ease the disruptions in services. Renting out buses for election duty would help KSRTC to earn a revenue of Rs. 7 crore. The Corporation will earn a rent of Rs.10, 000 per bus each day.

The KSRTC is providing buses today and tomorrow. As there are a series of holidays this week, the number of passengers travelling in city limits will be lower. There will not be much of an impact on city bus services.  However, the Transport Corporation will manage the bus service with the available buses in its fleet, he added.

Private bus operators cash in on demand

With massive demand for buses, as many are expected to go to their home-towns to vote, many private bus operators have been accused of hiking fares, despite the Transport Department repeatedly warning private bus operators not to fleece passengers travelling to their home-towns for elections.

Transport Department officials have urged the passengers to complain against fleecing private bus operators by calling Mob: 94498-63211. Transport Commissioner V.P. Ikkeri said that they would initiate  stringent action against erring bus operators and added that they have planned to intensify inspections as well as to check online booking sites to ensure operators don’t charge more than the normal fares.