Committee to decide on KSRTC night services

KOCHI: A special three-member committee, comprising of the KSRTC managing director, the Vyttila Mobility Hub Society managing director and the transport secretary, will meet in Thiruvanathapuram on Saturday. The meeting is expected to take a decision on whether the KSRTC should commence night services in Kochi or not.Although, the Vyttila Mobility Hub Society has decided to be fully operational, the desired result is yet to be achieved. As of now, the KSRTC buses are not operating from the hub at night. At present, the long-distance KSRTC buses enter the hub only between 8 am and 8 pm. The hub society authorities suggested the commencement of more night services. However,  the idea was rejected by the KSRTC stating that the passengers from the West Kochi will be left without options to travel in the night.The KSRTC authorities also said that the idea of conducting more night services and round trips would not be financially feasible.However, the sources with KSRTC said that the Saturday’s meeting will take a positive decision in this regard. “The KSRTC will schedule trips in such a way that they ply alternatively to Vyttila Mobility Hub and the Ernakulam bus station,” the sources added.Another reason cited by the KSRTC for the lack of night services are the less of number of buses available. “However, the Transport Minister recently had announced that the KSRTC will procure more buses for Kochi. Once these buses are launched, the KSRTC may shift the entire inter-state services to the hub,” the sources added.