The buses, which stop next to the bus terminal, interfere with the movement of state transport buses, incovenience passengers
Space crunch: Many KSRTC buses halt on the side of the road from 6 pm to midnight every day, which affects the movement of ST buses that operate from the Swargate depot. Pic/Mohan Patil
With the summer vacation travel rush at its peak, the large number of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses that halt outside Swargate state transport stand are leading to chaos and confusion.
Space crunch: Many KSRTC buses halt on the side of the road from 6 pm to midnight every day, which affects the movement of ST buses that operate from the Swargate depot. Pic/Mohan Patil
Apart from criss-crossing the ST stand and putting pedestrians lives at risk, these buses are hindering movement of vehicular traffic, leading to traffic congestion in the area.
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Traffic police officials said despite fining bus drivers for traffic violations, they continue to break laws with impunity.
KSRTC buses arrive at the spot at 10-minute intervals from 6 pm to midnight, and stop near this gate to pick passengers going towards Kolhapur, Belgaum and Hubli.
"Walking here has become a task for pedestrians. Besides the buses taking up a lane on the road, the movement of the buses poses danger to pedestrians' lives.
Moreover, the auto rickshaw drivers who throng the place, looking to pick up passengers, also occupy space on the road," said Ashish Kamthe, a two-wheeler rider and city resident.
"There is a BRTS lane on the road, and a lane for other vehicles. If this lane is usurped by these buses, then where will the traffic move," he added.
With the KSRTC buses parked in the front of the depot gate, ST buses have a tough time coming in and out.
Even passengers arriving to board state transport buses complain that at times the large number of buses makes it difficult to enter the stand from this gate.
"I often travel by ST buses from Swargate and every time I arrive here, these KSRTC buses are standing in front of the gate. Making your way here with luggage is difficult.
With the buses occupying most of the road, there is little space for other vehicles to pass, which leads to traffic jams in the area. Traffic police officials should not allow them to halt here and give them an alternate place," said another passenger Karan Jain.
This situation occurs every year during the summer vacations, but this year the traffic department and MSRTC officials, fed up with the menace, have decided to issue stern warnings to the bus drivers.