THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC's super class bus services will become new by early next year. Rs 814 crore will be sanctioned for this as a KIIFB loan. The process of purchasing 600 diesel buses and 179 electric buses using the Rs 359 crore received in the first phase is in the final stage. This is the first time that the KSRTC is purchasing buses by spending such a huge cost.

Ashok Leyland Company won the tender for diesel buses. However, KSRTC has not accepted Leyland's demand of extra 3.5 lakh rupees compared to the previous purchase of buses. The new buses will arrive next month if the corporation reaches an agreement with the company regarding the price. Buses will be bought along with body. The company has to do work, including repair work, for five years.

As per Motor Vehicle Act, new buses should be used for ordinary service after five years of long-distance service. However, the government extended the life of the new buses by two years and later by two more years. In this way, the life of 1433 buses out of 1800 super class buses got extended to 9 years. Of these, 250 buses will expire in March.

The new buses are being bought in the name of SWIFT. As KSRTC could not afford more loans, the SWIFT company was formed for the KIIFB loan. The new buses will also be operated by SWIFT employees. Staff on long-distance services will be transferred to ordinary buses.