Puttur: MLA Ashok Kumar Rai has announced that a direct, non-stop bus service between Puttur and Mangaluru will be launched shortly. This move is expected to greatly benefit commuters travelling directly between the two towns.
Initially, six buses will be introduced for this service. KSRTC officials stated that the journey time between Puttur and Mangaluru will be cut down to just one hour with this express service.
Additionally, an air-conditioned Ambari Utsav bus will begin operations from Mangaluru to Bengaluru, taking the route via Bantwal, Kalladka, Vitla, Puttur, and Uppinangady. This new route is being launched in response to requests from passengers in the Vitla region seeking better connectivity to the state capital.
During the announcement, Puttur Divisional Controller Amalingaiah Hosa Poojary, Divisional Traffic Controller Jaishanth, and Depot Manager Subrahmanya Prasad were also present.
In terms of workforce expansion, MLA Rai shared that 326 drivers and conductors have been appointed under the first phase for the Puttur KSRTC division. The state government had earlier approved the recruitment of 500 personnel, and the remaining positions will be filled in subsequent phases.
A clause in the appointment terms mandates that these newly hired staff must serve in the Puttur region for at least five years. With this staffing boost, more buses are expected to be deployed across multiple routes in the coming months.