Students of Karnataka University, residents of taluks in neighboring Belagavi district, using the new bus stand, are forced to take a bus to the central bus stand, and another to reach the university and railway station respectively is done.
Dharwad: Although the new bus stand on Belagavi Road was given the responsibility of handling all the works under the domain of the old bus stand, many areas of Dharwad city do not have direct buses to the former. Despite the fact that the new bus stand has been operational since 2005, commuters from different areas have to go to either terminal to get down, they have to change buses at the Central Bus Terminal, which is very annoying. North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) officials failed to ensure a direct bus between the new bus stand located in the heart of Dharwad city and Karnataka University, reflecting their indifferent attitude. On the other hand, outraged residents reported that, for the past 25 years, they had been demanding direct buses connecting the far corners of the twin cities, which would eliminate the need to stop at the central bus terminal.
HR Vastrad, a resident of Sadhanakeri, pointed out the winding road leading to the new bus stand and demanded to highlight the inept planning of the concerned authorities. “The terminal is only 2 km away from Sadhanakeri, but we have to travel 3 km to the central bus terminal, and from there take another bus to the new bus stand. Sadhanakeri is a local tourist destination with lake and Bendre Bhawan, but the NWKRTC is oblivious to the problems of the travelers.
Srinagar-based businessman Rajkumar Madiwalar said residents of villages in Bailongal, Kittur, Savadatti and Khanapur taluks of neighboring Belagavi district boarded trains bound for Bengaluru, Mysore and Ballari at Dharwad railway station. “This is the new bus stand where they get off. After reaching there, they either have to take an auto to the railway station, or take the bus to the Central Bus Terminal, and board another bus from there. People of Belagavi prefer to board their trains in Dharwad as it takes four hours by train to complete the journey,” said Madivalar, adding that some buses plying between Dharwad railway station and the new bus stand were no longer plying. “The services of these buses were stopped after the Covid outbreak,” he said.
Shivananday Swami, a former soldier from Barakotri, has traveled across the country, and is familiar with the problems faced by commuters using public transport in various cities. “But the system is worst in Hubli-Dharwad. It is a matter of regret that there are no direct buses from the new bus stand to places like Karnataka University, Railway Station. It is also regrettable that there is no bus connectivity in the remote areas of the twin cities,” he said.
NWKRTC Hubli-Dharwad City Division Controller, Vivekananda Vishwajanya said, “At the new bus stand, full-fledged operations started only in 2014-15. Now, we have resumed the services of suburban and rural buses from the old bus stand. Passengers using the new bus stand can switch to the Bus Rapid Transit System at Jubilee Circle. To expand city bus routes to remote areas, we need more resources and personnel. ,
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