Udupi: The private bus operators have promised to operate buses across the district from July 1 after their demands on hiking the ticket fare by 25 per cent was approved by the Udupi deputy commissioner on Friday.

Bus owners attending the meeting said, once the full occupancy was restored with the easing of the pandemic situation in the future, the bus fares will be reduced.

Udupi Private City Bus Owners’ Association Kuyilady Suresh Nayak said that initially about 25 out of 80 city buses will operate from July 1 and gradually more buses will be released in the coming days.

Buses had remained off the roads following lockdown restrictions. With the graded unlocking being implemented in Udupi, KSRTC’s city buses had begun to ply on some routes.

With a majority of routes being dominated by the city buses, the start of private bus operations will bring relief to many people depending on buses.