Bus services resume from Karnataka to Maharashtra, but not to enter Kolhapur

BELAGAVI: Days after the border row between Karnataka and Maharashtra erupted, leading to a suspension of bus services from both sides, it was resumed on Friday. However, the buses are dropping off passengers on the outskirts of Kolhapur on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway-4 and returning.

The bus services have resumed from Friday.

Though KSRTC has resumed its services, MSRTC is yet to do so. About 400 buses make trips to Maharashtra every day from Belagavi, Chikkodi, Kagawad and Nippani divisions.

After activists of the Shiv Sena, MNS and Swarajya defaced Karnataka buses with graffiti, the services had been stopped for two days.

The services had been suspended for two days.

Belagavi District Transport Officer of NWKRTC, K K Lamani said 150 buses from Belagavi division and 250 buses from Chikkodi division have resumed services from Friday to Mumbai, Thane, Nasik, Pune, Aurangabad, Miraj, Sindhudurg. The transport utility has lost Rs 70 lakh due to suspension of bus services for two days. Talks are on with Maharashtra transport officials as MSRTC operates 69 services to Belagavi, he added.