HUBBALLI: The two flyovers on Hubballi-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit System (HDBRTS) stretch have been constructed to ease traffic movement, but they are causing inconvenience to people who commute by buses.Though the flyovers have not been officially inaugurated, many vehicles are already plying on it. The cause of worry for daily commuters is that many buses, including NWKRTC and private operator Bendre Nagar Sarige, are taking the flyovers, skipping stoppages of Navalur and Unkal Cross , leaving passengers fuming.Advocate Sudhir Kakade told TOI that Unkal Cross is a major junction where people of Sainagar, Timber Yard, Lingaraj Nagar, Muneshwar Block and Hanumantanagar board or de-board buses. “It’s almost from a month that a few buses are skipping this stoppage and commuters are forced to wait for longer time. If this continues, people will definitely give up on public transport, which will defeat the purpose of BRTS,” he said.Rakesh Nayak, a private employee in Navalur, said the semi-urban area is getting detached from public transport as some drivers take the flyovers. “If there is no passenger getting down at Navalur, they just skip the stop by taking the flyover , leaving the waiting commuters in lurch,” Nayak said.Prasanna Hiremath, a shopkeeper in Navanagar , said the stoppage to catch buses towards Hubballi is under the flyover. “If city buses continue to skip skip the stoppage, it will definitely force people to use own vehicles which will lead to congestion on roads. Officials should warn the city bus drivers to work in the interest of commuters,” he said.Neela Patil, a teacher, said she usually waits for more than 30 minutes. “All NWKRTC and Bendre buses take the flyover and we are mute spectators. We are helpless to lodge a complaint with the authorities as we can’t even note down the number of the buses,” Neela said.When contacted, Vivekananda, divisional controller, Hubballi division, NWKRTC, said that he has not come across any such complaint. “We will check thoroughly and deploy a controller at the flyovers to keep a vigil on such drivers,” he said.Sudhakar Shetty, managing director, Bendre Nagar Sarige, said that he has received some complaints from passengers in this regard. “We have strictly warned our managers and drivers. We are calling a special meeting to sensitize them that flyovers are meant for private vehicles, not for public transport,” he added.

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