Idukki district is a densely forested, mountainous region in the south Indian state of Kerala. In the north, Anamudi mountain towers over Eravikulam National Park, where the rare, blue Neelakurinji flower blooms every 12 years. Nearby, Munnar is a hill station known for its sprawling tea plantations and Tea Museum. Farther south is the vast, curved Idukki Dam and Periyar National Park, a tiger and elephant reserve.
KSRTC Buses from Idukki by Yedhu Narayanan
KSRTC, the fond name for Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, connects the state well on road. As one of the oldest operated and managed public transports of India, Corporation’s buses have been long commuting amongst towns and villages – not only within Kerala but also connecting the neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. KSRTC has categorized its buses depending varying customer demands and distances and has scrutinized them amongst Ordinary, Fast Passenger, Super Fast, Express, Super Deluxe, A/C Air bus, Garuda Volvo Bus etc. types. Corporation’s wide ranging services are rightly complemented with reservation facility to help travellers book their seats, particularly when they want to travel longer or journey to other states.
History
KSRTC as we know it today was formerly known as Travancore State Transport Department (TTSD). It was initiated and managed by the erstwhile Travancore Government under supervision of the then Assistant Operating Superintendent of London Passenger Board Mr. E.G. Salter. Since his appointment on 20th Sept. 1937, TTSD nurtured as a predominant bus service, with interstate connectivity on longer routes such as Palakkad-Coimbatore and Thiruvananthpuram-Kanyakumari.
Initial convoy of 60 buses comprised of state-of-the-art machinery. It had Perkins made diesel engine which was imported from England while and was built on Comet chassis. An in house arrangement for bodybuilding was worked out wherein TSTD staff built the bus bodies under supervision of Mr. Salter. Staff selection model which was formulated that time is the same even to this day. Post nationalization of Thiruvananthapuram Kanyakumar route, most private transport operators had to shut down, thus making numerous individuals out of work. This staff selection model offered such individuals to come over with their certificates and apply. Some 100 inspectors and conductors with graduation degrees were selected as part of first staff selection of this Transport Department.
(Your access to Kerala’s history and heritage gets simpler with some of the best Kerala packages.)
Inauguration of State Motor Service came on 20th Feb. 1938 by the hands of His Highness Shri Chithirathirunal. This was followed by an inaugural trip graced by His Highness and his family members, and bus was driven by Superintendent Mr. Salter. A fleet of 33 buses joined the leading one and this inaugural function turned out to be a gala event that time as the buses drove through Kowdiar Square.
But the origination of KSRTC came only after Road Transport Corporation Act came into force in 1950. KSRTC operates on Section 44 rules formulated back in the year 1965, and the Transport Department became an autonomous body. Vide notification dated 15th March 1965, KSRTC got officially established and operational.
It is easier to recognize all KRSTC buses with their registration number as KL-15.
