Angamaly’s own PM, a KSRTC double decker bus, rules the road
When KSRTC buses are turning stars on social media, people at Angamaly have been celebrating their pride on a KSRTC bus for a long time. It is a double decker KSRTC bus which is very rare in Kerala.
Like an elephant that carries the idol during temple festivals, this double decker bus has great importance in Angamaly KSRTC bus depot. Kids address the bus as Angamaly’s own prime minister.
As being a unique bus, people are eagerly awaiting to board the bus.
A pleasant ride on top
“We should occupy a seat on top to enjoy the ride,” said a passenger.
While taking a ride on top, kids will feel they are driving the bus and others will be in dilemma wondering if the bus has a driver or not. Apart from this, we can even pluck mangoes from trees while taking a ride on top.
A ride in the bus is very special to those who board the bus for the first time. They were excited to enjoy the trip from the height of the bus compared to other buses.
Some foreigners also boarded the bus to have a special ride. A child who sat on the first seat of the top decker imitated himself of driving the bus. A foreign man captured the child’s fun time on his camera.
Seven years of long service in Kochi
Meanwhile, this bus was taken to Ernakulam seven years ago. KSRTC have three double decker buses in the state. One of the bus was converted into a heritage bus. One is undertaking service in association with tourism department at Thiruvananthapuram.
This bus plies on the Angamaly-Thoppumpady route after KSRTC authority took a decision to use it for public transport.
According to Angamaly depot officials, documents of the bus claim that it has been used for tourism and students’ trips. They asserted that everyone who love trips will enjoy the ride in this bus as most exciting.
The double decker bus will start service from Angamaly to Thoppupadi every day at 6.20 in the morning. Later it will take service from Thoppumpady to Angamaly at 8.45 am. After reaching Angamaly, the next trip will be taken to Vytila at 11.30 am. Trip to Angamaly from Thoppumpady at 6.30 pm is the last service for the day.
Though it is a double decker bus, there is no change in the ticket rates compared to ordinary bus. Special service will be carried out for children and adults who visit Kochi to experience Kochi Metro.
Ashok Leyland has constructed the double decker bus for KSRTC. It has 72 seats in two portions. Meanwhile, no passenger is allowed to stand and travel in the top decker.
“I have been driving the bus since 6 years. I am looking after the bus as my favourite,” said driver MN Babu. He noted that the bus never met with any accident so far.
“Other vehicles have some respect to this bus. No one violates the traffic rules when the bus is around,” said Babu, who is expected to leave the bus following a change in the duty schedule.
PV Davis is another bus driver of Angamaly’s Prime Minister. Saji Kumar and Biju are the two conductors who take duty in the bus.
Written by – Nandu Viswambharan.
