Mysore/Mysuru: Seeking extension of validity of KSRTC bus passes, hundreds of students, under the banner of AIDSO (All India Democratic Students Organisation) staged a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here yesterday.

Maintaining that in the past, the authorities used to extend the validity of bus passes till the end of the academic year, they alleged that this year, the authorities have suddenly terminated the validity of bus pass that ends on June 30.

Contending that they have to travel in buses by buying tickets from July 1 which is a huge burden for them, the students urged the KSRTC to extend the validity till the conclusion of the current academic year, which is likely to end in September.

Pointing out that BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) has already extended the bus pass validity which has benefited thousands of students there, they wanted the KSRTC to follow BMTC and extend the validity, which will be of great help for poor students.

They warned of intensifying the protest if the bus pass validity is not extended immediately.

AIDSO office-bearers Subash, Chandrakala, Asia Begum, Nitin, Swathi and others were present.

Students line up at N’gud bus stand

Meanwhile, students thronged the KSRTC bus stand at Nanjangud to get the bus pass. 

Upon coming to know of distribution of bus pass, many students skipped classes to stand in queues at the bus stand. As confusion prevailed on the issuance/renewal of bus pass, the students vented out their anger against the authorities.

Upon coming to know of the situation, KRRS (Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha) activists arrived at Nanjangud bus stand and took the authorities to task for the confusion and chaos. They demanded that the authorities set up separate counters for boy and girl students for issuance/renewal of bus pass.

Alleging that hardly a few buses start from the new bus stand at Nanjangud, they argued that this has resulted in a lot of inconvenience to daily commuters. They urged the authorities to resolve the issue.

KRRS office-bearers Vidyasagar, Satish Rao and others were present.