THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The move to give over a thousand bus routes to the private sector by sidelining KSRTC under the guise of 'need of the people' has reached its climax. The motor vehicle department has prepared a draft list to provide 40 to 100 routes in the districts to private services. The move is to finalize the list by next month and to start the services from April 1
The authorities say that the suggestions received in the public meetings held as per the instructions of the Minister of Transport are being implemented. However, it is the move to privatize, including the routes owned by KSRTC alone, that has reached its final stage. KSRTC had given strict instructions to the depots to stop services that did not earn Rs 35 per km. The services that were being run, including on rural routes as a social responsibility, were stopped with this. Through this, the strategy of exacerbating travel woes succeeded in many places.
Kerala Kaumudi had reported on July 29 about the move to revise the bus route by excluding KSRTC. The proceedings were delayed for some time after this, but the meetings were held.
Route secret
Out of the way permission; can run 17 km
Private buses are allowed to ply only 5 km on nationalized routes including national highways where only KSRTC has service authority. In Kottayam, 92 routes prepared under the guise of public opinion were allotted to private buses. One of them is the notified route which only KSRTC is authorized to use. Here the permit is given to private buses in such a way that they are allowed to run more than 17 km