Passengers, keep your fingers crossed. If everything goes as planned, KSRTC will introduce more inter-city low-floor AC bus services in the state. KSRTC received a tremendous response from passengers and revenue collections soared on Monday after it introduced Volvo buses to six cities.
The response has prompted KSRTC to think big. Talking to TOI, KSRTC chief traffic manager and executive director (operations) KM Irshad said they would introduce more services soon.
“We have seen the tremendous public response. We have plans to increase the services once the Centre allots the next batch of low-floor AC buses for the state. The services will be charted in such a way that passengers , mainly officers, executives and businessmen will be the beneficiaries. But, we won’t compromise on city services to achieve this goal,” he said.
KSRTC collected Rs 3.54 lakh using eight Volvo buses and providing 78 services that connected seven districts over the past two days. Statistics available with KSRTC showed that, on an average, 300 passengers availed each service.
Frequent services connecting major cities every morning and evening will be a great relief to thousands who have to commute between major cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. With Southern Railway unable to launch more Jan Shatabdi trains, the mandate for ensuring comfy connectivity between cities rests on KSRTC.
“I travel between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam on a regular basis and the new service has come as a great relief. I would say this is an excellent move. Earlier, I had to use my car and the expenditure was at least Rs 2,000 a day. The cost doubles if you hire a driver or taxi. A train journey is not practical due to shoddy time schedules and travel time. It takes five-six hours to reach Ernakulam from Thiruvananthapuram by rail except the Jan Shatabdi Express that takes 195 minutes. However , you have to be lucky to get a ticket on this train,” said PK Abhay Kumar, who imports construction materials.
“If KSRTC increases the services, the authorities should ensure a proper road,” said NV Nishanth, an executive with a private insurance firm who travels between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam every day.
“Take the Mumbai-Pune road service by Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). The 175-km journey takes three-and-a-half hours by bus during peak hours thanks to the Mumbai Pune Expressway, India’s first six-lane expressway. If a better infrastructure is available, KSRTC can cover the 220-km stretch between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam in four-and-ahalf hours,” said KT Shaheer, a senior executive with a multi-national tile company, who travels frequently.
Natpac’s senior scientist Tomy Cyriac said that KSRTC should get the basics right while planning inter-city AC services. “If a passenger opts for such a service, it should suit his schedule. The running time should be planned accordingly. Without proper headrests and adequate leg space, I don’t think long distance travellers will prefer such buses,” he said.
Source: Times Of India