THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 181 buses will be procured for SWIFT out of Rs 75 crore allocated by the government to KSRTC. The management has started discussions with Ashok Leyland Company to put 131 buses on the road in September at a cost of Rs 50 crore. 25 crores will be used to buy luxury buses.

A high-powered committee chaired by CMD Biju Prabhakar has been constituted to procure 50 buses including regular AC buses, sleeper buses and sleeper and semi-sleeper NewGen buses. 131 super-fast buses are being procured through an earlier tender awarded to Ashok Leyland. Earlier, the contract was given to buy 600 diesel buses. The flag-off was on last April 4. The tender period is up to one year within which the next purchase can be made.

The order was given to Ashok Leyland because it quoted Rs 1.35 lakh less than other companies that participated in the tender last time. A chassis was priced at Rs 22.18 lakh. 1 to 1.50 lakhs is likely to increase the price if a fresh tender is invited and it will take 7-8 months to complete as well.

KIIFB loan not received

Although the government has given permission to borrow Rs 814 crore from KIIFB at an interest rate of 4% to buy new buses, KSRTC has not received the amount. KSRTC had prepared a plan to buy 500 electric buses through KIIFB loan, but it did not work out.

Currently operating bus- 4,300: 4,400

In service after expiration of term: 237

Under repair: 800