
Residents of Devanur and Bilebal have demanded the return of NWKRTC bus KA 25/F-2937, which served the villages for nearly 15 years. The bus made six daily trips between Hubballi and Devanur before being sent for fitness certification two months ago and assigned to Navalgund depot.

Villagers said the replacement bus suffers frequent technical glitches. They also described how residents funded repairs, added lights and decorated the bus during festivals. About 200 villagers are planning to picket the depot. Hubballi rural divisional controller H Ramanagoudar said he would examine the matter and take appropriate action soon.
The dispute concerns both transport reliability and a strong sense of local ownership around one bus. Students and other residents say the replacement has technical problems, while villagers have invested money and effort in maintaining and decorating the original vehicle. NWKRTC officials have indicated that buses sent for certification are replaced temporarily and later assigned according to requirements, leaving the original bus’s return unresolved. The planned picket could pressure the department to address the demand. H Ramanagoudar’s examination and proposed action are the next stated steps.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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