MANGALURU: A verbal duel between a passenger carrying two roosters and a KSRTC bus conductor has become the talk in town after the latter asked the passenger to take half-tickets for the birds in the bus.

The incident took place in Uppinangady two days ago, when a resident of Kuppatti boarded a bus with two desi-breed cocks to give them as offering to a deity near Shirady, on the border of Dakshina Kannada and Hassan districts. The man boarded a sarige KSRTC bus and asked for a ticket to Shirady, the fare of which is Rs 77. However, when the conductor was issuing the ticket, he asked him to take half-ticket for the two chicken he was carrying. The man, however, got infuriated and entered into a verbal spat with the conductor. The conductor refused to budge and he claimed he was well within rules to charge for the chicken. The man refused to pay for the chicken, and instead alighted from the bus.

As per the rules of KSRTC, which is available on its website, rabbits, pups, cats and birds in a cage are charged children’s fare (half-rate). It further says that pet animals are allowed at the risk of accompanying passengers. Pets shall be carried in baskets, tied with chains and face masks. Passengers should ensure safe keep of pets and not cause disturbance to other passengers /bus crew/KSRTC property. Pet animals shall be charged as indicated above and shall under no circumstances be treated as part of free allowance.

A senior KSRTC official, who did not wish to be named, said that carrying chicken and issuing half-ticket for the same is very much a known factor in other districts of the state. However, it is quite rare in Dakshina Kannada. So that’s why it is amusing to many, he said.

