Mangaluru: The starting of an AC Volvo bus service to the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) from the city is likely to be delayed, as not much progress has happened on the plan till date.

The long-pending plan of direct buses to MIA got a stimulus, after state minister of transport B Sriramulu directed transport department officials to consider implementing the service on priority.

In response to the transport minister’s direction, the secretary of the transport department instructed the boards of KSRTC and BMTC, to spare three of their low-floor AC buses, the type that are operational in Bengaluru, for the airport there, to the Mangaluru division of the KSRTC, to start the bus service between the city and the airport.

Rajesh Shetty, KSRTC divisional controller, Mangaluru, said that the proposal has been moved to the BMTC, for its consideration.

However, there is no communication after that. The BMTC board of directors have to approve the proposal, and the meeting takes place once in three months. After it is approved, the proposal is sent to the KSRTC, to release the vehicles to the Mangaluru KSRTC depot. “It may take one or two months for the proposal to get finalised,” Shetty said, adding that talks have been held with the MIA manager, to chalk out bus timings.

“The airport manager has informed that MIA will add more domestic flights. The bus departure timings have to be fixed, based on the flight schedule,” Shetty said.