KSRTC long haul dreams await nod
The Swedish automaker also delivered 18 out of the 20 buses ordered.
Kochi: The plans of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to operate new interstate services to destinations like Goa and Mumbai conceived over a year ago are yet to fructify despite the buses and the crew are ready.
The reason – the neighbouring states refused to give the nod to operate on new routes till the assembly elections are over since the model code of conduct is in place.
A fleet of 18 Scania buses purchased by doling out Rs 23 crore has been idling at Thiruvananthapuram for the last two months even as training for over 100 crew identified from various depots to operate the buses would commence on Thursday.
It had even completed the test drive of the newly-bought ‘SCANIA Metrolink’ buses on the Thiruvananthapuram-Sultan Bathery and Thiruvananthapuram-Bangalore routes.
“We’re ready to start the services in every aspect but for the required nod. The states like Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry refuse to give the nod till the elections are over. Now we’ve to pay tax in the absence of a pact for operating the services which would result in huge losses,” said Antony Chacko, managing director.
The Swedish automaker also delivered 18 out of the 20 buses ordered. The KSRTC had announced in April last year its plans to run air-conditioned multi-axle buses to Panaji, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Tirupati and Puttaparthi from Kozhikode and Ernakulam stations.