Mangaluru: After 34 years of dedicated service with the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), veteran driver Joseph Machado retired on Saturday. Machado, aged 60, joined KSRTC in 1992 after working in local transport services. He described his tenure with the state-run corporation as the most fulfilling phase of his professional life.
Final Journey
On Friday afternoon, bus enthusiasts and well-wishers gathered to greet him on his final trip from Mumbai to Mangaluru. Machado recalled his career, which began at the Kundapura depot with the Kundapura-Bengaluru Sarige service. He later moved to Rajahamsa buses and drove the Kollur-Chennai Rajahamsa service, which was upgraded to a Volvo bus in 2005. After about 12 years on that route, he was transferred to Mangaluru's second depot in 2008, where he served on the Mangaluru-Chennai route before opting for the Mangaluru-Mumbai Airavat Club Class service. He also briefly operated the Mangaluru-Pune Ambari Utsav service before returning to the Mumbai route.
Emotional Farewell
Speaking about Friday's journey, Machado said he felt emotional knowing he would no longer report for duty. "Passengers often appreciated that we reached on time, and that always felt rewarding," he said. He fondly recalled being assigned a Volvo bus for the first time and thanked KSRTC officials and staff for their support throughout his career. "What makes me happiest is seeing a bus full of passengers," he added.
Machado earned a reputation for punctuality, particularly during the last six years on the Mangaluru-Mumbai route. Regular passengers traveling between Mumbai and coastal Karnataka often recognized and trusted him for timely journeys.
Colleague's Tribute
His colleague Clifford D'Souza, who worked with him on the route for the past six to seven years, said passengers had great confidence in the duo. "He was very helpful. We were like brothers and understood each other well," D'Souza said.
Recognition from Bus Enthusiast
Bus fan Ashik, popularly known as Ash2Travel, said many passengers chose the service because of Machado and D'Souza's punctuality, professionalism, and welcoming nature. Ashik also stressed that bus drivers deserve recognition for their work. "They drive long distances under stressful conditions, carry the responsibility of passengers' safety, and still ensure they reach their destination on time," he said.
