The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has earned a revenue of Rs.7.88 crore during the Sabarimala season by operating 15,38,354 services along the stretch in the State. According to calculations recorded so far, it looks like a no loss, no profit.
Pilgrims from the rain-ravaged Chennai has come down and that has hit KSRTC. Not only that, many pilgrims from Kerala reach the holy shrine by hiring private vehicles or travel in their own vehicle. The Theni issue has also spelled doom with buses plying only till Kumily. Buses towards Palani and Madurai did not ply during the time. There are 300 buses plying on this route. 22-seater private vehicles are not let into Pampa from Nilaikkal. Pilgrims have to take a KSRTC chain bus from here to reach Pampa.
KSRTC plans to run three rounds of chain services after the Makaravilakku Deeparadhana. Pilgrims have to depend on these buses till Nillaikal to board their private vehicles.
The private vehicles are being regulated so that the chain services of KSRTC are not interrupted. This will also increase the revenue of KSRTC. Along with this, the rush in Pampa can be controlled. Six services towards Thenkasi, 4 services each to Palani and Coimbatore, 2 services each to Palani and Coimbatore, 2 services each to Theni, Madurai, Kanyakumari and Bengaluru are presently run by KSRTC.
From Chennai, 46 buses will ply to Pampa. KSRTC Volvo AC buses will ply from the depots of Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram for the pilgrimage season.
News : Mathrubhumi Online
