Thiruvananthapuram: Long-distance private buses operate illegally from the state capital, eating into the KSRTC's revenue on nationalised routes, thanks to a weak enforcement. In spite of the motor vehicle department (MVD) fielding a 50-member team to hunt them down, they could not stop these luxury buses. A search for a ticket to Kannur on an online bus ticket platform returned six providers including Kallada (Suresh) and SRS operating 11 buses such as Volvo and Scania, including sleeper coaches. On the other hand, the KSRTC which has around five Scania services on the route operates with around 60 percent occupancy on weekdays.
Kishore Kumar, a passenger rights activist, says Kyros of Kondody Motors operates service to Muvattupuzha and Thodupuzha from here. “The private luxury buses from Idukki side travel right in front of KSRTC buses eating up its business, but there was no action to stop it,” he said. As per another activist, based in Nedumangad, these buses starting and originating from yards such as those in Aristo are easy to catch. “Some operate with fake number plates. The local police who can easily identify them do not take action,” he said.
Parallel service menace in the suburbs
Earlier this month, the MVD had caught a parallel service operating at Oorambu. But the local police made no arrests, despite registering a case. Interestingly, in the nearby municipality of Neyyattinkara, the CITU also flagged off a new bus service. “Local parallel services are plenty. For example, in Palode town, 28 jeeps run parallelly to regular bus services. The operators cede one of their vehicles, presently a van, for the use at the police station to avoid action against them. It has been going on since ages,” he said.
