BENGALURU: Those heading to their hometowns to cast their votes in the May 10 Assembly election were in for a shock as there were hardly any buses at the Majestic bus station. With polling day on Wednesday, most of the buses of the state-run transport utilities have been deployed for transporting election officials.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) runs 8,600 buses of which 4,100 buses and drivers have been deputed on election work. With just about half of the KSRTC fleet plying, there was a rush at the bus station to get on to buses. Also, about 2,000 buses belonging to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) have been deployed for the elections and patients returning home from hospitals were finding it difficult.
Passengers were fuming saying, “They ask us to vote, but there is no alternative arrangements for those who have to travel. What are we to do if buses are deployed for elections?” they questioned. Now, the KSRTC has decided to requisition some BMTC buses to run them on long distances.
With very few KSRTC buses, many people were seen at the Jas toll gate on Nelamangala looking for other means of transport. All private buses too were full, forcing people to travel on the rooftops. Similar was the scene at Goraguntepalya. At the Satellite bus station, people were seen pushing their small children through bus windows so as to grab a seat.