There’s currently a lot of excitement in Hubballi, Karnataka, as villagers bid a grand farewell to the Gujari transport bus, the first bus service in the town. Before the farewell, the bus was decorated and a pooja (prayer ceremony) was performed. But why was this bus given such a heartfelt send-off?
According to reports, the Gujari-bound transport bus was given a highly emotional farewell. This rare incident took place in Somapur (Allapur) village in the Dharwad taluka of Dharwad district. The bus was sent off with a ceremonial worship, adorned with flowers and decorations. While it is common to perform pooja for a new bus, what made this event unique was the way the villagers said goodbye to the Gujari bus, which provided essential service to the community. After 15 years of continuous service, the bus was now being retired.
The bus had been serving Allapur village since 2008, proudly bearing the KSRTC symbol and a peacock logo. Operated by the North-West Transport Corporation’s Urban Transport Unit-1, it connected Allapur, Kadapatti and Haliyala villages with Hubballi, which is about 15 km away. The bus would stay overnight in Allapur and depart for Hubballi each morning. The villagers had developed a close bond with the bus, even adding their peacock logo alongside the KSRTC emblem.
Locally known as the “Kira Bus,” it remained in service for 15 to 16 years, covering a remarkable distance of approximately 11.80 lakh kilometres. The villagers of Allapur felt a deep attachment to the Kira Bus, which had been a crucial part of their daily lives. Many of the passengers who travelled on this bus to schools and colleges have since gone on to hold prestigious positions. For them, the bus had become an inseparable part of their community.
Before saying a final goodbye, the villagers washed and decorated the bus with flowers. The driver and conductor were honoured and given heartfelt tributes for their long-standing service. The villagers found it hard to part with the bus, which had run flawlessly for 15 years, so they requested the transport department to give the bus to them. They plan to convert the bus into a library for their village, Allapur Gram. Panchayat member Mallikarjuna Ruddera is leading the request. To mark the occasion, a meal was served to the entire village as they bid farewell to the beloved Gujari bus.
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