Mangaluru: Contrary to initial concerns over a decline in passenger traffic after Kerala launched the Priyadarshini scheme on June 15, Karnataka RTC data on the Mangaluru-Kasaragod route indicates an increase in revenue.Data from June 1 to 14, and after June 15 shows that earnings per kilometre stayed almost the same. Before the scheme, buses earned around Rs 48.7 to Rs 51.3. After the scheme, the highest was Rs 57.2, and many trips earned around Rs 52 to Rs 53.Some trips saw a small drop, but there was no big fall. Most buses still earned between Rs 48 and Rs 52 even after the scheme started.A Karnataka RTC official said that the corporation recorded better earnings than expected, based on feedback from operational staff. The official said that the corporation had not lost its passengers, but likely private bus operators between State Bank to Thalapady and Thalapady to Kasaragod might have lost their passengers to Kerala RTC.The official said that several passengers, mainly gents, are likely preferring Karnataka RTC buses owing to rush in Kerala RTC. Meanwhile a Kerala RTC official from Kasaragod depot said that they have seen a steady rise in passenger numbers since June 15.However, private bus operators on the route claim they have witnessed a fall in revenue.Likhith Kumar, owner of the bus on the State Bank to Thalapady route, said that there is a significant dip in passenger numbers, and that almost everyone is preferring RTCs. He also alleged that govt buses are overcrowded.The situation is the same in Kerala. Subbanna Alva who runs a bus on the Thalapady-Kasaragod route said many buses have stopped services owing to the scheme. He said while he pours diesel of around Rs 8,000 the overall collection comes to around Rs 4,000.
