By S.B. Devaraj

Mysore/Mysuru: With the State-run KSRTC buses ferrying lakhs of passengers every day, here is the story of a teenaged boy of the city who has come up with a variety of models of the buses, after developing a passion  towards them.

Prajwal Gowda, a 16-year-old First PU student of the city, is the one who has built colourful models of different classes of KSRTC buses. He is the son of L.S. Raghavendra, a businessman and Kavitha, a KSOU employee. Prajwal, who passed 10th standard from De Paul Public school, has just joined first PUC.

Prajwal, who has a great liking for KSRTC buses, has built miniature models of Ordinary, Volvo and NWKRTC (North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) buses. These miniature models very much resemble  the actual ones in terms of their colour, design and all other features.

He also has come up with a bus model of his own design, which the KSRTC can use it for its future needs in accordance with the times.  Prajwal Gowda’s sojourn in bus model making began when he presented a model two months ago to the then KSRTC Mysuru Rural Divisional Controller Ashok Kumar.

Prajwal Gowda has built his bus models using Sunboard, a very strong, light and easily cut sheet material that is commonly used to make Prototype of objects, produce architectural models and to make casting patterns. Prajwal has used OHP sheets for making the rear and front sides and window panes of ordinary bus model. In case of Volvo bus model, he has painted it in white and pasted a sticker. Both the exterior and interior of bus model very much resembles the actual bus, be it wheels, doors, steering wheel, gear box, bonnet, seats, railings etc. 

The Volvo bus model has all its unique features such as Air Conditioning system, digital dashboard, wind screens etc.

Prajwal has taken about 25 days to build every model and has spent nearly Rs. 5,000 on each of them. Prajwal says that he developed a passion for KSRTC buses since his childhood days upon seeing them moving on the roads, picking up passengers at stops. 

Stating that he became a big fan of KSRTC after coming to know of its operations, he said that he used the COVID-19-induced lockdown time for promoting his passion of making bus models. 

Delighted by the sheer natural replica of buses, his parents encouraged him to come up with other models, which he did by using carton box materials as an experiment. 

A model of an ordinary bus was given to the then KSRTC Mysuru Rural DC Ashok Kumar on July 8, by which time, the KSRTC had resumed services following relaxations in lockdown. Enthused by the pat given by the KSRTC authorities, he came up with Volvo and NWKRTC bus models, says Prajwal. 

Expressing delight that KSRTC has earned the distinction of being one of the top public transport undertakings in Asia, he said that he has learnt a lot about the functioning of the State-run Transport Corporation.  Explaining his future career plans, Prajwal said that he has decided to make a career with KSRTC and he has begun preparations for it in right earnest. 

Maintaining that he has chosen Commerce stream in PUC only for the sake of being part of KSRTC management, he said that he  has all hopes that his dream of serving KSRTC as a top official will come true.