No buses, more hardship for passengers: KSRTC faces major fleet crisis as 2,050 buses near retirement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The financially struggling Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is facing a major challenge as 2,050 buses are nearing the end of their permitted service life. Of these, 1,200 buses must be withdrawn from service by September, while the remaining buses will have to be phased out over the next six months. The KSRTC management has approached the state government seeking approval for a Rs 1,400-crore foreign bank loan to purchase new buses. Until then, the corporation plans to hire private buses on rent to ensure uninterrupted services.

Under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, transport buses cannot be operated beyond 15 years. However, the 1,200 buses due to be retired in September have already been operating for 18 years after receiving periodic extensions.

KSRTC currently operates around 4,500 buses daily. The withdrawal of 1,200 buses is expected to severely affect services and increase inconvenience for passengers, especially with the Onam and Sabarimala seasons approaching. During the previous government's tenure, the corporation had purchased only 145 buses.

KSRTC seeks Rs 1,400-crore loan

• Managing Director P.S. Pramoj Shankar has written to the state government seeking approval for a Rs 1,400-crore foreign loan to urgently procure 1,900 new buses.
• According to the proposal, KSRTC plans to raise the loan from international financial institutions such as KfW (Germany's Development Bank), AIIB and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• The corporation plans to purchase 2,300 BS-VI buses for Rs 1,000 crore and 200 electric buses for Rs 400 crore, taking the total to 2,500 buses.
• The loan will require a state government guarantee as well as approval from the Union Finance Ministry.

KSRTC plans to hire 600 private buses

As an interim measure, KSRTC plans to hire 600 private buses on a contract basis. Under the proposal, KSRTC will pay a fixed rental to bus owners, while the owners will pay the salaries of drivers. Conductors will be provided by KSRTC. The corporation will also bear the fuel and maintenance costs.

Transport Minister C.P. John had presented the proposal during discussions with private bus operators' associations. Their response is expected to be crucial for implementing the plan.

Smart cards proposed for women passengers
KSRTC is also considering introducing smart travel cards for women travelling under the Priyadarshini free bus travel scheme. The move comes after surprise inspections reportedly found instances where zero-value tickets meant for women passengers were allegedly issued to male passengers, leading to misuse of the scheme.