subject: Ksrtc Bus Service [print this page] The great response to the Mangalore-Manipal Volvo bus services of the KSRTC that commenced about a month ago has stunned the KSRTC Mangalore Division. According to reports, the buses have earned Rs 48 lakhs during a month, despite them pressed into service amid strong opposition from the private bus lobby.
The six AC Volvo buses commence services from seven in the morning and operate 25 trips during a day. The fare is fixed reasonably at Rs 60 and about 40 passengers can travel in a bus. KSRTC sources revealed that each bus has earned a profit of Rs 1.60 lakhs per month.
RTO officer Jayanth Kumar says The private bus operators even thought in terms of reducing their fare to compete with the Volvo buses and also had plans to start their own AC bus services. But their plans could not succeed due to the RTO restrictions.
As expected, the private bus lobby had initially created several hurdles for the Volvo buses creating unnecessary obstructions. Still, it could in no way diminish the popularity of the Volvo buses. The people of the district would benefit greatly if the KSRTC enthused by the great response to the Mangalore-Manipal Volvo buses, would introduce similar services on other routes.
The KSRTC has announced that the semi-low floor non-AC Ashok Leyland buses would commence services in the city from this month or early next month. Nine such buses have been allotted to Kochi, and they are awaiting the green signal from the Regional Transport Authority.
The buses would be introduced on three routes. Three buses each would operate on the Poothotta-Njarackal, Panangad-Aluva and Chottanikkara-Aluva routes, all via Menaka. With the introduction of these buses, the total number of JNNURM buses in Kochi would go up to 22. KSRTC officials have claimed that the collection from the Volvo buses are increasing steadily.
In the case of the seven buses introduced in the first phase, earning per kilometre has started to touch Rs 40 per kilometre which is the break-even level. But, the profitability of the six buses started last week is yet to be ascertained, Sheraf Mohammed, Special Officer, JNNURM, KSRTC to The New Indian Express. The collection in Trivandrum is much lower, and no buses have been added to the fleet after the initial batch of 8 buses
