On December 12, students from Vivekananda College in Puttur, including third-year BCA student Jitesh N, were forced to pay the full bus ticket price after boarding a bus from the Puttur bus station to Uppinangady. The bus route was changed due to road construction in Haradi, and the students were told that their free bus passes, provided by the state government, were not valid since they did not start their journey from Bolwar, as stated on the pass.
The students normally take the bus from Bolwar to Uppinangady, but due to the road construction, the bus was taking a different route via the APC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) road. The students were asked to pay the full ticket price, and their complaints were met with indifference by the bus staff.
Jitesh has filed a complaint with the Chief Minister, stating that the bus operator’s refusal to honor their free bus passes is a denial of the government’s facility. The students have also approached the regional transport authorities, seeking justice and a solution to the issue.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati DK