Within a fortnight of its introduction, the Volvo service between Mangaluru State

Bank and Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada has been able to attract a good response.

Passengers attribute this to two reasons — comfortable journey within three hours,
covering a distance of about 145 km, and competitive fares.

Services leaving Bhatkal early in the morning, 6.40 a.m., 7 a.m., 7.30 a.m. and 8
a.m., are completely full.

Passengers sometimes travel standing in the services, revealed a conductor. The

earnings in these morning services too are quite high, fetching up to ₹42 a km.

From Mangaluru too, the services are getting good response. Mohammed Iqbal, a
businessman, who was returning to Bhatkal in the 3.15 p.m. service on Saturday,
said he came to Mangaluru by the first service, finished his shopping and will be
back home by 6.30 p.m.

It used to be difficult in the normal course, wherein a one-way journey itself

would take about five hours, he said. About 35 seats out of 45 seats in the bus
were occupied at the originating point itself.