KSRTC’s ‘Chill Bus’ trial run is a success..
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has started the trial run of ‘Chill Bus’ services, which offer air-conditioned travel at moderate fares. There are hourly trips on Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram route via Alappuzha during daytime between 6 am and 10 pm and at midnight, 2 am and 5 am during night hours.
AC low-floor buses belonging to the Kerala Urban Road Transport Corporation (KURTC) are being used to conduct the services. The fares of Chill Buses are the same as the AC low-floor buses. A passenger has to pay Rs 79 for travelling from Ernakulam to Cherthala, Rs 122 to Alappuzha, Rs 197 to Kayankulam, Rs 220 to Karunagappally, Rs 258 to Kollam, Rs 319 to Attingal and Rs 357 to the State capital.
During the official launch of the Chill Bus services on August 1, trips between Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram via Kottayam and to Munnar, Thodupuzha, Kumali, Guruvayur, Kozhikode and Palakkad will start operations.
The trial services are receiving a very good response, according KSRTC’s zonal officer V M Tajudeen Sahib. Trips conducted in the morning received collections of around Rs 15,000, he said.
The Chill Bus service was launched based on a directive of KSRTC CMD Tomin J Thachakary which envisaged services on crucial routes at fixed intervals. The main advantage of the ‘Connecting Kerala’ initiative is that buses will be available every hour between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod on various routes.
While the AC train fare between Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram by Jansatabdi Express is Rs 425, it is Rs 495 in third AC on other express trains. KSRTC believes that Chill Buses would attract many passengers by offering a lesser fare than trains. Moreover, all buses from Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram travel at full capacity.
Another advantage of introducing the Chill Bus service is that there are few convenient trains between Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram. The popularity of the trials indicates that the Chill Bus would be successful if the services stick to their schedules.
Seats can be booked on Chill Buses online also at their website – www.keralartc.in.
