Kochi: Close on the heels of starting ‘week-end’ services to Bangaluru, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to reschedule over a dozen inter-state services as night services from August one so as to maximize revenue collection.
Also it would start ‘Minnal’ services to Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kannur, Mananthavady and Sulthan Bathery as ‘Night Riders’ from next week, targeting long distance travelers.
“We’re effecting ‘strategic time management’ with regard to those superclass services which are running at a loss. Most of the travelers are professionals and opt to travel in the evening or night after working hours. Hence the buses will be rescheduled in such a way that they would depart from starting points after five from both directions,” KSRTC sources said.
For instance, the Ernakulam-Bangaluru Super Deluxe via Salem is currently scheduled to depart from here at 3.20 pm. It will depart from 8 pm from August one onwards. In return direction, the bus would start from Bangaluru at 7 pm instead of the current 4.15 pm.
Another Super Deluxe service through Sulthan Bathery scheduled to leave Ernakulam at 8 pm will be rerouted through Mananthavadi. Similarly reservations facility will be introduced for the Piravom-Bangalore service.
“The Minnal services will have a single stop in each district through which it passes. Also they will ply through bypass routes and won’t enter main cities of Kochi and Thrissur. Since they’re being operated during night, they will be the fastest services. Request stops, though, will be provided at the stating and destination districts. We’re waiting for a convenient date of the minister to launch the services,” the sources said.
