Public transport a far cry for these villagers

PUDUCHERRY: Remote villages in Puducherry remain without public transport causing difficulties for the people who come for employment and other work.The  villages of Sorapet, Sellipet, Vambapet, Vinayagampet on the Patthukannu - Thirukanur route situated around 15 to 20 km from Puducherry  remain without a bus service. Though the transport department had issued permits on these routes, bus operators had stayed away from operating services, said a  resident on Tuesday.Several people including women  from these areas who work in factories at Mettupalayam and other areas walk to Patthukannu, a distance of 10 km, to catch a bus  both in the morning and evening, said AV Veeraghavan of the Congress media cell.  As the routes are less profitable except during peak hours, the operators use their permits to operate for alternative purposes like marriages, public functions, pilgrimages, he said.  The RTO authorities said that though around seven permits had been issued, some of the operators had stopped plying temporarily due to repair of buses.”We have issued notices to the operators 10 days ago to start operations by replacing their vehicles,” said an RTO authority.