Darbhanga road transport corporation divisional manager Shardanand Jha has requested for security, alleging a backlash from private bus operators.

Jha said: "We received 26 new buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme for Darbhanga. The Darbhanga Transport Regional Authority has also granted permits for the buses. We want to start plying these buses but we fear a backlash from private bus operators."

Shardanand has also written a letter regarding the same to Sujata Chaturvedi, the transport principal secretary.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to the inspector-general (Darbhanga range), district commissioner, district magistrate and Darbhanga senior superintendent of police.

Darbhanga SSP A.K. Satyarthy said necessary measures would be taken to ply the transport buses.

He said: "We will take adequate measures once the divisional manager meets us and discusses the issue. If necessary, a meeting with the transport and private bus operators would be conducted. We will ensure the process is dealt in a smooth manner."

Sources said the state has so far received 101 buses out of the 500 allotted under the scheme.

Darbhanga is expected to get 60 such buses out.

It is often forund that fares in private buses are nearly 15 to 25 per cent more than that of the state-run ones.