The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) management’s decision to operate the Ernakulam-Bangalore Superdeluxe bus from Piravom has landed in a row at the depot here. According to official sources, the decision taken at the top level was allegedly to protect the interests of Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob who represents Piravom constituency. “The Ernakulam depot currently operates only three Ernakulam-Bangalore services. We are forced to compete with 13 Karnataka State Road Transport buses to Bangalore from our depot. If our bus is diverted to Piravom, it will bring down the patronage of the passengers from Ernakulam who would opt for the Karnataka and private services. The move to extend the 8 pm Ernakulam-Bangalore super deluxe bus from Ernakulam will be financially a let down to the depot,” the officials said.
Sources said that when a few of the KSRTC buses were diverted through Piravom, the collection of the buses came down by 50 per cent. The Kottayam-Bangalore Superdeluxe bus which was deviated through Piravom started running at a loss. Also, the Velankani-Ernakulam Super Express bus which was diverted through Piravom proved to be of no use to the public as the route is narrow and the distance, longer. It was then re-diverted through MC Road. The trade unions are also opposing the move citing that Piravom is only a byroute and it is not feasible for major services to operate from a small depot.
“The patronage from Piravom is low. There is no need for the bus to be operated from there. Also, there are chances that once reservation starts from Piravom, seats for the passengers who wish to enter the bus from Ernakulam will come down,” the officials said.
Currently, there are allegations that the collection of the Ernakulam-Bangalore Super Express bus which leaves the depot at 9.15 pm and which has been diverted through Chamravattom bridge (based on the interests of the political leaders there) has come down by 50 per cent.
Officials also alleged the KSRTC depot does not have the needed capacity of long -distance buses in Ernakulam. “The depot is extremely favourable for operating long-distance buses. However, the management is yet to make efforts to run more services from here,” the officials said.
However, Minister Anoop Jacob said that the move would be beneficial to the public. “There has been constant demand for a bus from Piravom to Ernakulam. There are many students who board from Piravom. Also, the number of buses plying through these routes are few. The diversion won’t affect the passengers in Ernakulam as the time schedule will remain the same. We have asked the KSRTC to provide us only ten seats as reservation,” he said.
