Mysuru: KSRTC has initiated measures to build bus depots in T Narasipura, Varuna and KRS amid the city’s rapid growth and increasing demand for state-run bus services.KSRTC’s Mysuru division requires at least five acres for each depot to operate additional buses. Demand has increased following the implementation of Shakthi scheme providing free bus travel for women and distribution of free bus passes to students.Land prices have risen with the development of the peripheral ring road and expansion of the city. Following state govt’s reconstitution of KSRTC’s Mysuru city and rural divisions, both have focused on establishing new depots.Currently, KSRTC Mysuru city division, which has its three depots in Banni Mantap and another depot under its jurisdiction in Nanjangud, operates its city buses to the city’s outskirts like Suttur, Rammanahalli, Yelwal, Chamundi Hills, Hadinaru, Hosakote, Brindavan Gardens and T Narasipur, among other places, on different routes from City Bus Stand. Mysuru city division has around 350 buses in its fleet and the rural division has more than 800 buses. Shortly, Mysuru will also see another 120 electric buses for Mysuru city KSRTC division.In the first phase, KSRTC plans depots in T Narasipura for the Talakadu route and in Suttur in Nanjangud taluk. A depot will be built in Varuna if land is unavailable in Suttur, while another is planned at Brindavan Gardens in KRS. Depots in Yelawal, HD Kote and Bannur are proposed in the second phase.Speaking to TOI, KSRTC Mysuru Urban divisional controller Jagadeesh Kumar said KSRTC has already identified five acres of govt land for the construction of T Narasipura depot on the Talakadu route, and the search for land for the remaining depots in KRS and Varuna is in process.Mysore city KSRTC division will soon send a proposal to state govt for construction of depots in T Narasipura, KRS and Varuna or Suttur once the land identification and other procedures are complete, he said.The construction of a new bus depot, which will have features to park 70 to 90 buses at a time, with rest houses for its staff and other facilities for passengers, helps the division to operate more buses from the new depots, he said.
