Ageing buses continue to ply on roads: KSRTC claims they're 'fit for service'

Sunday 08 December, 2024 | 1:12 AM READ MALAYALAM VERSION

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ordinary buses that are about 20 years old and Superclass buses that are 10 years old are still plying on our roads, despite concerns over their safety and age. While KSRTC claims that these vehicles are fit for service, incidents like buses catching fire and tyres bursting suddenly indicate the advanced age of the buses.

The law states that vehicles used for Superclass services (from Fast Passenger upwards) should be transferred to Ordinary service after five years. Buses can be used for ordinary service for a maximum of 15 years. When a bus from the Superclass is converted to Ordinary service, a new bus should replace it. However, instead of replacing old buses with new ones, the corporation is extending the service lives of the old ones. The plan to purchase new buses has not materialised, which has forced the management to repair and put old vehicles back on the roads. Initially, it was said that KIIFB would provide the money to buy buses, and later it was stated that the government would allocate the funds. Unfortunately, neither of these plans has materialised.

Fund sanctioned, but money was not disbursed
In June 2023, Rs 814 crore was sanctioned by KIIFB for purchasing new buses. Instead of procuring buses through a new tender, the Transport Department decided to purchase 469 diesel buses under an earlier tender awarded to Ashok Leyland. However, this did not materialize. After KB Ganesh Kumar became the minister, a plan was prepared to purchase 555 new buses, hoping to receive ₹92 crore in government funding. However, not a single rupee was received. Later, a tender was issued to procure 265 buses.