KSRTC misses opportunity to buy buses at cheaper price

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ashok Leyland has informed KSRTC that they can no longer supply the bus chassis as per the old tender. With this, KSRTC lost the opportunity to acquire 469 buses for Rs 1.35 lakh less per bus. According to the tender dated August 26, 2022, the condition was to purchase 600 buses within a year but KSRTC purchased only 131 buses.

KSRTC lost the opportunity to buy the bus at a low price when the government's decision to allocate Rs 181 crore as a loan from KIIFB and Rs 75 crore to be paid directly by the finance department was not implemented. Transport Department Secretary Biju Prabhakar sent a letter requesting that at least half of the amount be immediately allocated for the purchase of buses before the deadline of the tender, but as usual, the Finance Department ignored it. Currently buying 469 new buses will incur an additional liability of at least Rs 6.33 crore. Also, there will be a delay in getting the bus. Ashok Leyland had agreed to provide the chassis of 600 buses at a rate of Rs 22.18 lakh, which is Rs 1.35 lakh less than the amount quoted by other companies.

Earlier in May, a decision was taken in a meeting attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to grant a loan of Rs 181 crore from KIIFB. The decision was made after considering the reports of the Transport Department that increasing the number of bus services would increase the revenue and would be able to meet the expenses including salaries on their own. However, that decision was not implemented. It was then announced that the government would provide Rs 75 crore as assistance.

Scania and low floors broke down mid-journey

Long-distance services are the financial backbone of KSRTC. However, eight of the 17 Scania buses that ran long-distance services for Onam broke down on the way.

Out of 1800 long-distance buses, 1669 buses are operating even after expiry. The new bus should run super class service only for five years. The rule is to turn it into an ordinary class when it is over. 159 buses in service today are 10 years old.