Thiru Kochi service in need of repair

KOCHI: The KSRTC Thiru-Kochi service is entering its second year of operation but it seems to be facing many hurdles and losing its popularity. Though there were moves by the former government to start 100 more Thiru-Kochi services, the decision seems to have been scuttled. KSRTC had decided to roll out 100 buses in Kochi and the fund for purchasing them was earmarked in the last budget presented by the former government. Just an administrative order would have facilitated the introduction of more buses. “The government has decided to operate 50 more buses but it will take at least three or four months,” an official with KSRTC said. “According to the government the delay in getting the bodies of the buses built is delaying the allotment of more buses,” he said.Moreover, KSRTC is unable to operate the existing services properly. According to the officials, an average of 22 trips is being cancelled due to the shortage of drivers. The situation arose after the mass retirement of employees from KSRTC in March. As filling these vacancies through PSC examinations is time-consuming, the KSRTC authorities approached the Employment Exchange at the district headquarters for the purpose. Even now there is a dearth of drivers in KSRTC. The plight of passengers in the city has turned from bad to worse, with many of the private buses ceasing services. According  to private bus owners, the entry of Thiru-Kochi buses had affected them adversely. “Around 100 private buses operating in the city ceased services during the last one year. While, we have to keep the time limit for covering specific distances, there is no such restriction for the KSRTC buses,” said M B Sathyan, general secretary, Private Bus Operators Association.