KOCHI: The private bus operators in the city have threatened to stop services from September 20 (Friday) unless the city roads are repaired immediately. The Kerala Bus Transport Association submitted a letter to district collector S. Suhas on Monday seeking his urgent intervention in this regard.
“We have submitted a series of requests to the district collector,” said K.B Suneer of the association. “Our major demands include repairing of bad roads, permission to use Vyttila underpass and stopping the diversion of buses through narrow interior roads. While private vehicles, including big tourist buses, are allowed to use the Vyttila underpass, only the private service buses are banned. The buses have to run 5 km more to take a U-turn at Chalikkavattom to reach Vyttila junction. If a bus operates 10 trips a day, it has to run an additional 10 km causing huge loss.”
He said the collector has agreed to discuss the matter during a meeting scheduled on September 18, he said.
According to the bus operators, the private bus industry is in deep crisis with more operators quitting due to financial burdens. There were over 30,000 private buses in the state 10 years ago while the number has dipped to fewer than 12,000 now.
“Despite repeated requests, the police authorities are still diverting buses through narrow roads like St. Benedict road at Kacheripady, which causes accidents and difficulties to residents in the area. Buses should be allowed to operate through the permitted arterial roads. Bad roads and unscientific diversion are causing huge financial loss in terms of fuel cost and frequent repairing required for damaged spare parts,” added Suneer.
The closure of Palarivattom flyover will add to the traffic woes along NH caused due to the ongoing construction at Vyttila and Kundanoor.
Meanwhile, Private Bus Operators Association general secretary M.B. Sathyan said that though bus operators have been facing several issues, stopping service will be the last resort.
According to K.G. Radhakrishnan, secretary of ‘Save Kerala Movement’ the tax payers bear the brunt of the acts of certain corrupt officials. “The closure of Palarivattom bridge will be a double blow to the city residents, who have been suffering from traffic congestion for long. This is the first instance in the state where a bridge needs to be reconstructed due to poor construction quality,” he said.
