Over 100 KSRTC Volvo buses pulled out of service
The standoff between Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the agency entrusted with repairing the Corporation’s 202-strong fleet Volvo buses is continuing, despite half the fleet being pulled out of service.
The KSRTC and KURTC which operates low-floor buses owe around Rs. 3 crore to Vista Driveline Motors, dues incurred over the past eight months.
“We repair and maintain buses operated by five RTCs, including that of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. All of them, except KSRTC/KURTC, clear dues within two or three months. Half their Volvo fleet is now grounded after we decided to stop repairing them. We are not in a position to extend further credit sans clearing of present outstanding,” said Siby Mathai, MD of Vista Driveline Motors.
A senior KURTC official based at the agency’s head office in Thevara said that efforts are on to ensure normal services of Volvo low floor and inter-State buses in a fortnight. He further cited the need for each low-floor bus to rake in minimum of Rs. 16,000 revenue per day, to meet expenses of diesel, maintenance and wages for crew members. “Most buses which operate in Kochi city earn less than Rs. 14,000. However, most buses which operate long-distance (inter-district) services earn upwards of Rs. 20,000.”
The RTC is citing fiscal crisis, though around 80 per cent of the capital to purchase the buses was Central funding. Idling buses for long durations and not doing timely repairs will result in they having to be sold as scrap.
“I will once again call on senior officials during the coming week, since this much dues does not augur well for both KURTC and Vista,” Mr. Mathai said.
Around 25 Volvo buses have been grounded for rectifying problems with the air conditioner. They can return to service if approximately Rs. 5 lakh is spent on tending to this problem. Even this has not been done, sources said.
Responding to the issue, A. Hemachandran, MD of KSRTC, said that the KSRTC does not have working capital to raise funds for upkeep of all of its buses.
Another supplier
“The issue has been prioritised and efforts are being made to clear the dues. Around 15 buses will resume service by Monday. Moreover, another spare parts’ supplier has been identified, to restore services that were withdrawn,” he said and called for more government funding for public transport.
Written By: John L. Paul