The introduction of 50 Thiru-Kochi services in the city by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) two years back, is yet to make a perceptible change in the city’s public transport system.
Their timings often clash with that of low-floor and other KSRTC buses, with the result that different buses under the agency ply as convoys in different routes. “This has affected the optimal utilization of our bus fleet, since passengers board the first or second bus, the others plying with less than a dozen people,” RTC sources said.
There were also complaints of some private buses changing their timings so that they are able to collect passengers before Thiru-Kochi buses reach the stops. These issues apart, the second lot of 100 buses promised for the city is yet to arrive, over a year since the announcement was made. The availability of public transport has further been reduced because soon after the KSRTC launched its 50 Thiru-Kochi city services, 76 private buses surrendered their city permits citing feasibility issues.
Twenty private buses plying to Aluva surrendered their permits, of which eight were in the Aluva-Fort Kochi route alone. But the KSRTC failed to step in with its Thiru-Kochi services in these routes. The allegation was rife that they also progressively curtailed their services in a few city routes and diverted the buses to the suburbs where they earned more income.
The agency’s Ernakulam zonal officer Sebastian Thomas said that eighty more Thiru-Kochi buses will begin service in the city in a few months, once the Thevara bus depot is converted as a hub for city buses. Referring to concerns about inadequate Thiru-Kochi services in the city, he said that around 15 services were withdrawn due to unavailability of drivers.
“Now with drivers and conductors being recruited through the Employment Exchange, all the 70 buses are plying.” As for steps being taken to end buses going as a convoy, Mr. Thomas said that the list of buses plying in different routes is being taken. “Care will be taken to prevent the overlapping of services.”
Of late, the surrendering of permits by private bus operators has come down, thanks mainly to the decision not to re-issue the surrendered permits. The public transport in Kochi might get even worse thanks to a notification issued by the State government in July 2009 putting restrictions on issuing and renewing permits to private bus operators with effect from May, 2006, along nationalised routes. Only the KSRTC and civic agencies like corporations or municipalities will be allowed to operate along such routes. This means that permits issued after the notification will not be renewed on the expiry of their validity of five years. This fall in services will have to be made up by the KSRTC or other government agencies. Interestingly, though the number of city permits to private buses has been limited to 600, the KSRTC can apply for any number of permits.
Source: The Hindu
It is true that KSRTC is playing tantrum with ‘Thiru Kochi’ services, launched with much fan fare in Kochi city . Sadly, they are not operating all the allotted schedules even in main routes like Aluva – Fort Kochi, Aluva – Aroor & Aluva – Poothotta , which form life lines of Kochi city. Strangely, you can see empty ‘Thiru Kochi’ buses operating in CUSAT, Pookkattupadi & Kakkanad routes. So, one should suspect that more than the revenue aspect, some other considerations & influences are behind KSRTC’s strategy for ‘Thiru Kochi’ services.
Of late, KSRTC have distributed ‘Thiru Kochi’ buses to far away depots like Piravom/Kodungalloor and hence their effective utilisation has further come down. How many trips can a bus deployed in Piravom – Aluva sector make, in comparison to Thevara – Aluva or Fort Kochi – Aluva? So the corporation should station these buses with Aluva & Ernakulam(ideally at the Thevara yard) for better deployment and scheduling. If running short of parking space at EKM depot, send Semi Low floor buses to Paravur, Piravom, Angamali, Muvattupuzha, Perumbavoor, Kothamangalam etc.
Moreover, KSRTC is not operating ‘Thiru Kochi’ services in under-served sectors in the city. There are no attempts to connect places in city which are not presently served adequately by Private/KSRTC buses, like Gandhinagar, Jawahar Nagar – Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Chilavannoor, K. P. Vallon Road etc.
Worse still, ‘Thiru Kochi’ services too wind up their operations by 7.30 PM or 8.00PM. In short, despite forcing private bus operators to leave the scene, ‘Thiru Kochi’ has not effectively filled the vaccum, causing unending hardships to travelling public.
So, slowly but steadily, KSRTC’s ‘Thiru Kochi’ is loosing sheen. Unless some re-organisation & sensible re-deployment is done, it is going to be another wastage of public money.
I think the vision of our great minister Jose thettayil is not fulfilled.He had taken a great decision to play city service in Kochi.His followers and officials failed.Mr. Thettayil has taken another strong decision to publish private buses routes and time schedule in website for the commomn people.That decision also twisted by officials.Now we have no idea of private bus time and route, is it correct or not? So many private buses play in Kochi without permit,inproper time,violating route etc.
Start some new thirucochi buses from Fortcochin, Mattancherry,Chellanam & kumbalangi to Aluva or Kakkanad thru thoppumpady, Thevara, Pallimukku, Kadvanthara. This will be profitable to KSRTC & there is no chance for competition & adjustment with private buses like buses running Vyttila-Vyttila Circular buses and Thirukochi starting from Kakkanad