Bengaluru: The Karanataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is planning to install Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purifiers at its bus stations to provide clean drinking water to passengers.
According to a senior officer at KSRTC, the idea of installing water purifiers came about when Bharath Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) under its Corporate Social Responsibility decided to install the water purifiers at 15 bus stands in Pandavapura, Nagamangala, Harihara, Srirangapatna and other places.
The officer, who did not want to be named, said, “The KSRTC will install the water purifiers in the remaining bus stands in a couple of months and a tender will be called at the earliest. The water will be sold at Re 1 per litre and this money will be used for maintenance of the purifiers. KSRTC will be managing the operation and maintenance of these purifiers in all the bus stands.”
Another officer said, “We have observed that the travelers who cannot afford to buy packaged drinking water, tend to drink from taps and we never know how contaminated the water is and whether the pipes are maintained on a regular basis. As soon as they consume water from taps, they fall sick,” he added.
The officer also mentioned that passengers have complained that taps meant for drinking water at bus stands are poorly maintained and not cleaned on a regular basis.
“So considering the health of passengers, we have come up with the idea of installing water purifiers and will be charging only Re 1 for a litre. The passenger can insert a one rupee coin and get a litre of water. The purifiers can supply 100 litres per hour and will function round the clock,” the officer added.
“The system is being examined and once the tender is finalized, we will carry out the work at the earliest by keeping in mind about the approaching summer season. This would definitely help people who cannot afford mineral water bottles,” added the officer.
