Fresh permits to be issued to private buses

KOCHI: Even while crippling the Thiru-Kochi services, the authorities are trying to allot more permits to private buses in the city under the cover of vitalising public transport system. The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) is all set to issue more permits to the private buses, especially for starting services connecting islands in and around Kochi.According to an affidavit filed by the state government before the high court, there are only 600 city bus permits. With the introduction of Thiru-Kochi buses, the city permits have reached the point of saturation. For a month now, nearly 22 Thiru-Kochi buses are kept off the road everyday. According to the authorities, these services are being cancelled due to insufficient drivers.But the authorities with the Motor Vehicles Department in the district said there were no effort to issue permits to new city buses. "As of now, we are planing to give more permits to KSRTC for starting more services through the Vallarapadom ICCT-Kalamassery road,’’ RTO T J Thomas said.Even private bus operators have come up against giving fresh permits to the private buses without considering the demands of the passengers. "Rather than issuing fresh permits, the government should ensure proper infrastructure for the buses to run smoothly. With the onset of monsoon, potholes have surfaced on the roads and we have no other ways to cut short the trips,’’ Private Bus Owners  Association secretary M B Sathyan said. "Fresh permits should not be issued without considering the requirement. Issuing such permits has resulted in unhealthy competition among private bus operators,’’ Sathyan said.On the other hand, many private buses stopped services within a short span aggravating the woes of passengers. Bus owners said they were forced to stop the services after it became unprofitable. There were reports that most of the private buses which stopped the service had temporary permits.The state government plans to start 100 more Thiru-Kochi buses. The previous government, in its last budget, had earmarked the amount for buying the buses.