The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation is struggling to pay off salaries to its staff and pension to retired employees, but more than 30% of low-floor buses are in workshops.

According to data obtained through RTI, out of the total 616 low-floor buses, (190 AC and 426 non-AC) owned by the corporation, only 420 buses are in operation. Out of the 196 buses in workshop, 148 could not be serviced due to unavailability of spare parts. As per the data, 33 AC and 115 non-AC low-floor buses require spare parts for maintenance work.

KSRTC do not have a separate inventory for purchase of spare parts for non AC low-floor buses. The spare parts for AC low-floor are not procured through centralized purchase.

“The spare parts of the buses cost a huge amount and KSRTC is not in a financial situation to purchase them. We are trying complete the maintenance work with available spare parts,” said an employee of the mechanical department.

KSRTC received a revenue of Rs 14 crore per month from the low-floor bus service this year. There had been decrease of Rs 2 crore in revenue collection of low-floor buses from January to September.

The average expense on maintenance work for low-floor AC and non-AC buses are Rs 1.20 lakh and Rs 15,000. The KSRTC does not have an annual maintenance contract with the company providing low-floor buses.
SOURCETimes Of India
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