Malappuram-Nedumbassery KURTC route mints money

KOZHIKODE: The air-conditioned low-floor Volvo bus services introduced by Kerala Urban Road Transport Corporation (KURTC) on the Malappuram-Nedumbassery route has proved a huge hit.

The services were kicked off on June 19 and it is adding Rs 40,000 into the ailing corporation’s kitty every day.

The KURTC runs two daily services on the route—starting at 4.15 am and 3 pm from Malappuram.

Besides migration of people from Malappuram to Gulf countries, the closure of Calicut International Airport to wide-bodied aircraft came as a boon for it.

“The daily ticket collections range from Rs 36,000 to Rs 42,000. It is a record for the Malappuram depot. We have now rushed a request to commence one more service on the same route via Kottakkal,” a district-level KURTC officer told DC.

The fare is Rs 240 a passenger and it takes 3.45 hours to reach the destination. Besides Gulf-bound passengers from Areekode, Nilambur, Manjeri, Kottakkal, Vengara and Kondotty, people from the bordering localities of Kozhikode also find the low-floor services economical and convenient for them.

“The low-floor bus gives a refreshing experience unlike the usual services of KSRTC. Of late, the corporation has recognised the importance of passengers’ satisfaction and it is highly appreciable,” said P.A. Gafoor, a Kottakkal native who has travelled more than once.

KSRTC, the mother body of KURTC, has been operating six low-floor services from Malappuram depot.