Kochi: Soon you can find an ATM counter in every depot of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), giving commuters the choice to carry light cash during journeys.
“We found this was a major demand of the travelling public. We are setting up Automatic Teller Machines at 62 depots. The Catholic Syrian Bank has already been given the contract to provide the service in 32 depots,” said Antony Chacko, managing director.
Location sketches for counters at 16 places including Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kollam, Allapuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Pathanamthitta have been prepared and the construction activities have started.
“Since the model code of conduct is in force, the inauguration of the ATM counters will be done only after the local body poll results are announced on November 7. However, the construction will go on simultaneously. If someone finds difficulty in finding an ATM counter, all they have to do would be is to go to the nearest KSRTC depot,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, talks are in progress and a detailed plan is being worked out for introduction of cashless smartcards by this month end.
“We are holding discussions with the banks, the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd and other parties for the project. Since our network is large, it involves a massive exercise,” he said.
The multi-purpose cards will do away with the issue of ‘change shortage’ besides making it easy for commuters and the crew.
Fares will be debited from the smartcards just by swiping in the electronic-ticketing machines by making use of the Radio Frequency Identification Device technology.
