Kochi: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has deployed air-conditioned multi-axle Scania buses on 13 long distance routes including to places like Bangalore, Mookambika, Mysore, Mangalore and Coimbatore.
Originally, KSRTC had purchased a fleet of 18 Scania buses by paying Rs 23 crore to operate new inter-state services to destinations like Goa and Mumbai. However, neighbouring states refused to give the transit nod till assembly polls were complete since the model code of conduct was in place.
With the buses lying idle, the Corporation sought permission to operate them in viable long distance routes. “We have already deployed 12 of the buses. Another schedule will be started in the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollur section next week. For the rest of the five buses, we plan to operate them in the Chennai sector. The Tamil Nadu counterpart had sought our nod to run summer specials and in return we have asked for permission to operate buses to Chennai, a route that is in much demand,” said KSRTC managing director Antony Chacko.
Already two buses are operating in the Aleppey-Bangalore route (one schedule), four in the Thiruvananthapuram-Coimbatore (two schedules), two in Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore (one schedule), two in Thiruvananthapuram-Mookambika (one schedule) and two in Thiruvananthapuram-Mysore route (one schedule).
Training for over 100 crew to operate the buses of the Swedish automobile giant has begun from April 14. The ‘Scania’ company delivered 18 out of 20 buses that were ordered. KSRTC’s plans to operate luxury services to destinations like Panaji, Mumbai, Hyderabad, etc are yet to materialise.
