Travellers to Bangalore in a spot

Even as the Onam season hots up, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is distressing its passengers travelling to and fro Bangalore with its poor service. According to sources with the KSRTC Ernakulam depot, only one service is currently running from the depot to Bangalore owing to the shortage of buses at hand.  “Currently, only the 9.15 am bus is running on time. The service of the other buses at the depot has been cancelled as they have been sent for maintenance,” sources said.

The issue aggravated two weeks ago when one more bus from the already bus-deprived depot met with an accident in Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu en route to Bangalore. Similarly, three months ago, yet another bus rammed into a workshop at Manipal in Malappuram where it had met with an accident.

No buses have replaced it till now, officials with the KSRTC said.

Meanwhile, another newly serviced bus to Bangalore which completed its Fitness Certificate test this week has not yet been taken out for service, citing a few unimportant repair works.

“The bus is in perfect condition. There is only a slight complaint with the radiator, which can be fixed quickly if the authorities are interested. However, it is mandatory that the bus is run to cater to the needs of the public,” sources said.

Speaking on this, Ernakulam ATO Venugopal said that he is helpless since the buses have been put for maintenance at Edapal. “We have informed the officers concerned about the issue. We are facing acute shortage of buses which is why we cannot make up for the cancelled services. We run the 8 am service this week onwards,” he said

Meanwhile, four superfast buses from the Ernakulam depot which were given away to the Kozhikode depot to run services along the newly identified route at Kozhikode has led to a number of services from Ernakulam depot being cancelled. Only one bus has been given in exchange, Venugopal said. 

“The authorities had told us that they would  give us 20 more superfast buses once the new buses are commissioned.” However, as far as the passengers are concerned, this is proving to be a long wait.