Mangaluru: Mangaluru International Airport, the second busiest after Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, has no public transport facility even after several decades. There is a growing demand from flyers for a bus facility to the airport, which is about 14km from the city.
Currently, flyers solely depend on taxis, auto rickshaw or their private vehicles to reach the airport. A few years ago, KSRTC had planned to start a direct bus service to MIA, but it did not materialise.
“We pay a hefty fare for taxis to MIA both for inward and onward journeys. It is better that a few bus services are introduced to the airport. It will benefit both passengers and airport staff. Those who complain that buses are not viable due to poor passenger load factor is just an excuse,” said a frequent flyer.
On average, taxis charge anywhere between Rs 650 to Rs 1,300 for either airport drop or pick up. “The MIA has a footfall of nearly 10 lakh passengers with close to seven lakh domestic passengers alone in a year. Therefore it is the need of the hour to have sophisticated bus service dedicated to MIA,” he added.
Expressing disappointment, Twitterati Gopinath Prabhu @gopinathprabhu tweeted: Even after a decade our MPs have not been able to start a bus service to airport from City, making it perhaps the only international airport in India without any public transport. @HardeepSPuri@PMOIndia @mlrairport @AdaniOnline @AAI_Official (sic)
The MIA officials pointed out that the district administration must facilitate the bus service. When TOI contacted deputy commissioner KV Rajendra, he said KSRTC has been granted permission to run bus services to MIA during the last meeting of the District Road Transport Authority (RTA).
06/03/11 Times of India
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