Road Block For Volvo Buses
With the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) yet to pay a lump sum amount of Rs 35 lakh for the repair of Volvo buses in Ernakulam alone, 30 per cent of the Volvo buses in the city have gone off the road. For the past two months, at least 12 buses have been pulled off and are lying at the KSRTC garage at Erankulam. Many more remain unattended in various other depots.
According to sources with the KSRTC, the delay in paying VISTA, the company which roles out the Volvo buses to the KSRTC, has led to the delay in the repair of the buses. “The KSRTC has not yet paid the amount to the company. Since the damage to the buses is considerable, the company has informed that it would not be able to take up the repair works. In the past two months, the number of accidents involving Volvo buses have gone up drastically. Most of the buses have either damaged window panes, gears, shock absorbers etc. Recently, a few services have been pulled off because of the damage in the display,” he said.
Currently, these Volvo buses are not plying in the Poothotta, Arayakavu, Chottanikkara and Container road areas, etc. But so as not to inconvenience the public too much, the KSRTC is plying ordinary, old buses for the time being, sources said. According to officials with the KSRTC, the unexpected increase in the number of damaged Volvo buses in Ernakulam depot has put an added strain on the KSRTC officials. “It is for the first time that so many buses have been damaged. Now that the Onam season is soon approaching, we have requested the officials at the headquarters to sanction the necessary amount to be paid to VISTA,” ATO Venugopal said. VISTA officials stated that they have given the KSRTC one week to pay up. “ We understand the financial crunch the KSRTC are in and that is why we extended the time to one more week,” said an official with VISTA.
Meanwhile, no effort has been made yet by the KSRTC to increase number of buses for the commuters during the Onam season. “Usually, a few extra buses are permitted to help the passengers.However this year, no efforts have been taken.”
Also, currently only one Ernakulam-Bangalore superfast Express is plying from Ernakulam, which is yet another matter of inconvenience for the passengers.
News: New Indian Express