The Hindu 25.11.2010
JNNURM buses to ply to mofussil towns
S. Anil Radhakrishnan
KSRTC awaits government approval for
project in the
city and Kochi.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The new fleet the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation received from the Union Ministry of Urban Transport under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) is set to ply to mofussil towns.
A proposal to this effect by the KSRTC to offer hassle-free ride for those commuting from the main municipal towns to Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi is pending with the government.
“We are awaiting the nod and the plan is to commence service with the 20 semi-floor non-air conditioned buses that had joined the fleet,” a KSRTC official told The Hindu.
One of reasons to extend the services to mofussil towns is to encourage citizens to use the public transport system. As they are punctual, efficient and the staff courteous, authorities hope commuters will favour the service.
In Thiruvananthapuram, the proposal is to operate the buses to Neyattinkara, Kattakada, Nedumangad and Attingal. Muvattapuzha, Piravom and Kolenchery are the towns to which the services are to the extended in Kochi.
The 20 non-air conditioned semi-floor buses and the 10 air-conditioned low floor buses that had joined the fleet have got the mandatory permit. The JNNURM service was launched in the State in Thiruvananthapuram in November 17 last year. Initially, eight low-floor air-conditioned buses were pressed into service. Later, the fleet was augmented with eight non-air conditioned buses.
From November 18, 2009, to October 31, these buses plied seven lakh km and carried 11.08 lakh passengers fetching a collection of Rs.2.28 crore for the KSRTC.
The collection from these services just manages the operating cost taking aspects like depreciation, salary, fuel bill and maintenance into account. The minimum fare of the air-conditioned buses is Rs.10 and that of the non-air conditioned, Rs.5. The KSRTC is of the view that it can make profit if the air-conditioned bus services fetch Rs.50 a km and the non-air conditioned services, Rs.38.
The official said the KSRTC was worried over the ‘lack of response' from the commuters in the capital to the services. Though the services were extended to Technopark this did not improve the situation.
“There is no regular clientele for the JNNURM buses in the capital. What is surprising is that there is heavy demand for the services in Kochi with demands even from individuals to operate the services to mofussil towns,” he said.
With financial support from the JNNURM, 350 modern buses will be introduced in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram in stages.
Under the scheme, 30 AC low-floor and 120 semi low-floor buses will be introduced in the capital and 50 AC low-floor and 120 semi low-floor buses in Kochi.
