The Hindu 23.11.2010
Low-floor buses to ply to city's suburbs
Staff Reporter
One of the aims of the service is to decongest roads by giving commuters a reliable, comfortable, user-friendly and affordable mode of public transport.
KOCHI: Residents of Piravom, Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha would soon be able to commute to the city in KSRTC's low-floor buses which have air suspension.
This is in keeping with the plans afoot to extend the services of both AC and non-AC low-floor buses purchased under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme, to the suburbs.
The RTC's Ernakulam Zonal Officer G. Jayaraj said that some of the existing services plying within the city would be extended to the nearest suburban area, ensuring better reach for public transport.
Some of the new buses expected to join the fleet, including Volvo buses, too would operate to the suburbs.
One among the aims is to decongest roads by providing car and two-wheeler users a reliable, comfortable, user-friendly and affordable mode of public transport. The low-floor non-AC buses have a minimum fare of Rs 5 and 70 paise for every additional km beyond the minimum fare stage. The buses already link Paravur and Perumbavur with the city.
People from the suburbs had been demanding extension of KSRTC low-floor and Thirukochi buses to their areas, since commuting to the city in private vehicles involved passing through very congested junctions and stretches.
As of now, the agency operates 41 low-floor (of which 18 are Volvo buses) and 50 Thirukochi buses in and around the city.
The income from Volvo buses is hovering just over Rs 40 per km, whereas it ought to be Rs 48 to be feasible.
It is around Rs 26 per km for non-AC buses, which have to garner at least Rs 30 per km.
Bypass diversion
The RTC's proposal to divert some of the Superfast bus services through the Edapally-Aroor bypass is hanging fire, reportedly because of objections raised by a few organizations in West Kochi.
In addition to saving at least an hour per trip and huge amounts of fuel, the buses that skip the congested western parts of the city would also have much lesser wear and tear, thus lessening the operational expenses. Less number of long-distance buses plying through the city hub would also lessen congestion.
