Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has managed to find a new route to resume services on Thursday. Heavy rain resulting in floods and a landslide in Madikeri have destroyed road connectivity to the region, leaving people inconvenienced or stranded. KSRTC services were also brought to a halt when buses were stopped along the Madikeri and Virajpet routes in Kodagu and passengers were forced to remain under house arrest.
KSRTC is now providing adequate services on the nationalised route from Madikeri to Sulya.
Alternative roads have been identified for the operation of buses but this isn’t possible for the regular vehicles. The KSRTC is, therefore using only minibuses. “Many people and students requested us to resume operations. Bearing in mind the interests of passengers who travel from Madikeri to Sulya and back, we managed to establish a new route,” a senior KSRTC official told Deccan Chronicle.
The alternate route from Madikeri to Sulya goes via Panathur, Karike and Bhagamandala and is about 91 kilometres in total. “We are now operating three buses in the morning and one each in the afternoon and evening from both directions,” he said.
“All three buses are operating from the Puttur and Madikeri divisions and we will start the two-bus service from Saturday. A total of five minibuses will provide 14 single trips between Madikeri and Sulya everyday until the road connectivity is restored,” he added.
