Overcrowded and perilous: KSRTC’s Gavi services face severe safety risks amid passenger surge

PATHANAMTHITTA: The ordinary Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus services operating from the Pathanamthitta depot to the eco-tourism destination of Gavi have turned into an administrative nightmare and a safety hazard. Driven by the immense popularity of the 'Priyadarshini' free travel scheme, a massive influx of passengers has left the route severely overwhelmed.

Local reports indicate that the 5:30 AM ordinary service, which has a legal seating capacity of just 36 passengers, is routinely cramming in over 90 commuters per trip. With women making up nearly 80 percent of the travelers due to the state transport incentive, daily commuters—including school students, local laborers from the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) and Moozhiyar heights, and essential personnel from the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Forest Department—are frequently left stranded or forced to travel hanging precariously from the footboards and handrails. The subsequent 6:30 AM schedule faces an identical crisis.

Transport experts and regular passengers have raised alarms regarding the sheer danger of operating severely overloaded buses on this specific terrain. The journey spans 94 kilometers and takes roughly four hours, weaving entirely through narrow, treacherous forest tracks.
Recent heavy rains and flash floods have washed away or severely damaged multiple sections of the road. Drivers must navigate a route flanked by sheer, unfenced abysses on one side and low-hanging forest canopies on the other. Compounding the risk is the unpredictable wildlife; the region is a known corridor for wild elephants and gaur. In an overloaded vehicle, any sudden emergency braking to avoid a wildlife collision could result in a catastrophic loss of control.

The overcrowding has also severely disrupted the lives of the forest-dwelling communities. Gangamma, a resident of Gavi, highlighted that because the buses are packed to maximum capacity right from the originating depot, they frequently skip crucial stops in the Moozhiyar and Kochupamba pockets entirely. She urged transport authorities to immediately establish dedicated transit arrangements for local residents who have no other means of connectivity.

Acknowledging the unfolding crisis, the Pathanamthitta District Transport Officer (DTO) stated that a formal assessment has been conducted. A comprehensive report will be submitted to the Executive Officer of the KSRTC Operations Department today, urgently requesting the deployment of additional bus services along the route to distribute the passenger load and restore safety.

Currently, KSRTC operates only three daily schedules from Pathanamthitta to Gavi at 5:30 AM, 6:30 AM, and 12:00 PM, charging a one-way fare of ₹152.