Udupi: The sudden suspension of services by Sri Lakshmi Express, a private bus operator based in Mandarthi, caused major inconvenience to commuters in parts of Udupi district on Tuesday, particularly students appearing for ongoing examinations.
The disruption followed the passing of the company’s founder, nonagenarian M. Vittal Shetty, who died on Tuesday. Soon after the news of his death, social media posts circulated stating that buses operated by Sri Lakshmi Express would remain off the roads for the day.
As a result, several bus services across routes in and around Mandarthi, Hebri and Brahmavara were abruptly halted, leaving passengers stranded and forcing many to seek alternative transportation.
Services suspended after founder’s death
Sri Lakshmi Express had been operating bus services from Mandarthi for several decades and was a key transport provider in many rural parts of Udupi district.
Following the death of founder M. Vittal Shetty, family members and bus crew reportedly decided to suspend operations on Tuesday as a mark of respect. However, the decision was not officially communicated in advance to passengers or transport authorities.
Officials from the transport department and police initially said they were not aware of the suspension of services. However, sources within the transport industry later confirmed that the buses had indeed stopped operating for the day.
Industry insiders said the company operated at least 30 buses as stage carriage services across several routes in the district.
Strong presence in Mandarthi and surrounding areas
While Sri Lakshmi Express operated only a limited number of long-distance services, such as those connecting Kundapur, Udupi and Mangaluru, its primary presence was in the Mandarthi region of Brahmavara taluk.
The bus operator played a crucial role in providing connectivity between several towns and interior villages. Major routes served by the buses included Kundapur–Mandarthi–Hebri and Udupi–Brahmavara–Mandarthi–Hebri.
In addition, the company operated services on several interior routes connecting remote villages, making it an essential transport option for residents in these areas.
For many people living in these regions, particularly students and daily commuters, these buses are the only reliable means of transportation.
Students face difficulties during examinations
The sudden suspension of bus services caused significant inconvenience to residents of remote areas, especially students appearing for ongoing Pre-University Course (PUC) examinations.
Students from villages near Mandarthi and Hebri reportedly struggled to reach their examination centres on time due to the lack of public transport.
Many students had to rely on personal vehicles, autorickshaws or help from relatives and neighbours to travel to their exam centres. Reports from the region indicated that the situation caused anxiety among students and their families.
Observers noted that the disruption occurred at a particularly sensitive time, as students were already under pressure due to the ongoing examinations.
Industry voices concern over abrupt cancellation
Transport industry sources said that while the death of the operator was a deeply unfortunate event, the complete cancellation of services without prior notice caused avoidable hardship to the public.
A source in the industry pointed out that operators could have at least run the early morning services so that students and commuters could reach their destinations without difficulty.
Additionally, the source noted that permits issued by the transport department typically require bus operators to maintain scheduled services and do not allow abrupt cancellations without valid arrangements.
Such sudden disruptions, particularly in rural areas with limited alternative transport options, can have serious consequences for daily commuters.
Authorities informed about the disruption
Udupi Regional Transport Officer (RTO) H. S. Bhagavandas said that the department had been informed about the matter following complaints and reports of buses not operating.
According to the RTO, a relative of the late M. Vittal Shetty later contacted officials and expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers.
The relative reportedly explained that the suspension of services occurred spontaneously because members of the family, bus staff and close associates were in mourning after the death of the founder.
Officials said the family assured the transport department that such a situation would not occur again in the future.
Services to resume from Wednesday
Authorities confirmed that bus services operated by Sri Lakshmi Express would resume normally from Wednesday.
This assurance is particularly important as Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations are scheduled to begin soon, and thousands of students rely on public transport to reach examination centres.
Transport officials have emphasised the need for uninterrupted bus services during examination periods to ensure that students are able to travel without difficulty.
Conclusion
The temporary suspension of Sri Lakshmi Express bus services following the death of its founder highlighted the critical role private transport operators play in connecting rural communities in Udupi district.
While the disruption was reportedly due to circumstances of grief within the operator’s family, the incident has raised concerns about the need for better communication and contingency arrangements to avoid inconvenience to the public.
With services expected to resume from Wednesday, residents and students in Mandarthi, Hebri and surrounding areas are hopeful that regular transport connectivity will continue without further interruptions.