KSRTC may start more interstate buses soon

Thiruvananthapuram: The KSRTC has been unable to increase interstate services to cities like Bangalore and Chennai due to the interstate reciprocal agreement on the basis of parity in kilometres. The private operators exploit the passengers because of the low travel facility available with major cities in the neighbouring states.

The KSRTC will have to provide the same kilometres to the other state transport corporations if it has to operate more services to those states.

As per the present interstate reciprocal agreement, the KSRTC can only operate four more interstate services to Bangalore, KSRTC Executive Director P.M. Sharaf Mohammed told Deccan Chronicle.

The railways' decision to start weekly special trains between Kochuveli-Krishnarajapuram sector will help ease the rush for tickets. All tickets of train No. 82644 Kochuveli-Krishnarajapuram weekly Suvidha special train leaving Kochuveli at 5 p.m. on Sunday were sold out by 1.30 p.m.

Sources said that the state government was planning to start interstate bus services in cooperation with Karnataka government.  A meeting convened by Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran on Thursday decided to hold transport secretary-level discussions with Karnataka for revising the interstate reciprocal agreement with that state. Transport Secretary K R Jyothilal has been entrusted with the task of conducting the talks with his Karnataka counterpart. If such an agreement is reached, the routes demanded by Karnataka should not harm the commercial interest of the KSRTC, sources said.

The new routes have to be identified by depot in-charge from there to destinations in the neighbouring state for running new services. The same will be complied with and new services started based on demand and bus availability after the new agreement is signed. As a reciprocal arrangement, Karnataka Transport Corporation will also be allowed to operate the same number of kilometres and the same number of routes in Kerala. The same is the case with Tamil Nadu. If new buses are to be operated by the KSRTC, the present interstate reciprocal agreement has to be revised, sources said.

The transport secretary has already conducted discussions with the Railway Board chairman to provide more train services from the state to Banglore, sources said.