Resumption of Karnataka-Kerala interstate bus trips unlikely!

Mangaluru: Inter-state bus trips between Karnataka-Kerala are doubtful for now. The status quo is likely to continue for at least another week.

There were messages circulating on social networking sites that bus traffic on the Mangaluru-Kasaragod route is likely to be restored from November 1. But, the Dakshina Kannada district administration informed that inter-state bus traffic would not start for another week.

In the midst of restrictions on Karnataka-Kerala inter-state bus traffic, all school and college classes including primary schools have started in Karnataka from October 25.

Students from Kerala studying in various educational institutions along the state border are required to produce a covid negative certificate before entering Karnataka if they want to attend physical classes.

More than 2,000 students from Kasaragod are currently enrolled in various schools in the Dakshina Kannada district. So far, physical attendance is not made compulsory, with options for online classes available to them. However, most of the students who have remained at home for the past one-and-a-half years now expressed their intention to attend classes. Parents also want to send their children to school.

Meanwhile, Covid positivity rates in Kerala is between 10 percent to 14 percent. The situation is better in Kasargod district as compared to other areas in the state. Whereas, the positivity rate in neighbouring Dakshina Kannada is very low (below 0.5%).

The high positivity rate reported from Kerala has been the chief reason for the ban. Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Dr Rajendra K.V. informed that interstate buses can only start when the positivity rate when Kerala’s positivity rate drops below 5 percent.  “We will wait another week to take stock of the situation and take appropriate decision,” he said.

Kerala has no objections 

Officials of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation said there are no objections from Kerala on allowing buses from either state to enter or leave. Buses are unable to cross the border due to the Karnataka government’s ban on such movement. The bus service will resume as soon as the Karnataka government lifts the ban, they said.