Police phone-in: No change, misbehaviour in city buses dominate

Mangaluru: City bus owners have been instructed by the City Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil to guide their staff to behave well with passengers and also cooperate in the matter of returning change to them. Mr Patil was speaking in response to complaints received during the weekly phone-in programme held at his office on Friday, July 19.

Many callers during the programme complained that the conductors of private city buses do not pay back change. There were also complaints about conductors refusing to extend concessional fare to students if they do not bring exact change, and collecting full bus fare from them.

A caller complained that auto rickshaw drivers operating at Deralakatte do not follow uniform rates and therefore urged for publishing a list of fares. In response, Mr Patil assured to discuss the issue with transport officials and publish list of fares.

Responding to the complaint of a caller regarding the non-provision of water supply to government sites allotted at Jokatte, the commissioner said that the matter would be brought to the notice of the deputy commissioner.

A caller pointed out that the calls made to police control room do not get immediate response while another caller demanded for construction of bus shelter at the bus stand near Bejai museum. There were demands for construction of speed breakers on Bejai circle – KSRTC bus stand road to which assistant commissioner of police, Manjunath Shetty explained that the speed breakers have been sanctioned for this stretch of the road, while Mr Patil asked the concerned to finish the work at the earliest.

Responding to the complaint on two-wheelers speeding in front of A J Hospital, the police commissioner said that traffic police would act against them. To the complaint regarding the potholes near the tollgate at Bantwal the commissioner said that the matter would be brought to the notice of national highways authority.

There were also many complaints regarding mosquito and street dog menace which was the city corporation’s responsibility and hence Mr Patil assured top refer the same to the MCC.