KSRTC runs 2.5 lakh km extra during Dasara

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) did an additional 2.5 lakh kms operating extra 138 buses during the 10 days of recently concluded Dasara festivities in Mysore. It earned an overall revenue of Rs 45.68 lakh, marginally up by Rs 2.40 lakh compared to last year Dasara.

"The tourist flow was not upto the expectation, but even then we did better," said KSRTC Mysore Urban Divisional Controller P Ashok Kumar.

Speaking to Business Standard today, he said the conducted tours specially for Dasara, operated between October 4 and 17, had fetched KSRTC Rs 17.2 a km., yielding a revenue of Rs 4.84 lakh.

The KSRTC operated five types of conducted tours in and around Mysore at normal fares with specially trained drivers and conductors. "We want to make these tours value added next year in the background of the experience gained this year," Ashok Kumar said.

The extra 138 buses had been drawn to the central pool from Hassan, Chikmagalur, Mangalore, Davangere, Mysore Rural and Mysore city fleets.

'Giridarshini' covered hill centres like Bandipur, Gopalaswamy Hills, B R Hills, and Chamundi Hills, 305 kms in all. 'Jaladarshini' took the tourists to Nagarahole, Irpu falls, Raja Seat (Madikeri), Abbi falls, and Golden Temple (Bylakuppe), a distance of 376 kms.

'Nagaradarshini' went round Nanjangud, Uttanahalli, Chamundi Hill temples, Nandi statue, Natural History Museum, Zoo, J M Palace, Srirangapatna and KRS, a total of 145 kms.

'Devadarshini' covered Bluff, Talakadu, Somanathapura, Srirangapatna, and KRS (235 kms), while 'Paramparadarshini' took the tourists around heritage buildings of Mysore city, making a one-day sightseeing trip.

"Even chief minister Dharam Singh preferred a Volvo bus to travel from Lalitha Mahal to Palace on the Vijaya Dasami day," Ashok Kumar said.

In order to promote tourism in Mysore, KSRTC has introduced four 'hop and out' buses in the city. Buying a Rs 20 ticket, a tourist can alight at any tourist spot and after visiting get into another 'hop and out' circuit bus which will be operating every half hour on the same tourist route.

"As the response is encouraging, we have replaced two out of four buses with latest new buses," the controller said.

It has opened a stall in the Dasara exhibition, where old and latest buses are displayed.