KOCHI: Yet another Bus Day was observed in Kochi with much fanfare on Wednesday. But the change in venue of the programme from the Vyttila Mobility Hub to the road side points fingers at the failure of the authorities. Initially, the Bus Day programmes were planned to be organised at the Vyttila Mobility Hub. But the venue had to be changed following hurdles, including the poor shape of approach roads. Though there were efforts to shift some of the shops like the outlet of Beverages Corporation near the entrance of the hub, nothing concrete has happened so far. These shops add to the congestion at the entrance.The authorities had claimed that private buses would be allowed to run on stretches where there are some restrictions in place. In some stretches like Ravipuram-BTH Junction and Kacheripady-North junction, the buses are diverted through byroads while private vehicles are allowed to use the main road. There was plan to reverse it on the Bus Day. But the authorities could not stick to their word.The road to and from the hub is narrow which makes the entry and exit of buses difficult. According to earlier plans, buses, especially city buses, were to operate from the hub, at least for the day. Even the KSRTC could not start operating services from the hub so far. “We will be able to run more services only after the work of the hub is completed. As of now, the KSRTC operates 62 trips from the mobility hub,” said P L Jose, KSRTC Zonal Officer. Star-studded rideActors Beena Antony, Bala and his wife Amritha Suresh and District Collector P I Sheik Pareed also took the bus as part of Bus Day. Passengers were offered a free ride on the KSRTC double-decker bus plying between Angamaly and Vyttila. The journey in two Vyttila-Vyttila A/C low-floor buses by the KSRTC was free. Two private buses plying in the route also offered free rides throughout the day.
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