Vytilla Mobility Hub: Travellers left stranded as buses cancel night trips

Kochi: Unauthorised trip cancellations by private buses during non-peak hours are putting short distance commuters from Vytilla Mobility Hub at much difficulty, especially during night. A senior official of the Vytilla Mobility Hub Society (VMHS) said private buses conducting city services are the main culprit.

"Though there are schedules till 9.30 pm, buses often stop service two hours earlier as the collection will be less at that time. However, this adversely affects commuters arriving from far away places. They won’t get connectivity to travel to the city and are forced to look for other options," the official said. Another complaint lodged with the VMHS by passengers is that there are only a few services from the hub to the city suburbs like Cherthala and Vaikom after 8 pm.

"With private buses cancelling their trips, commuters hitching a ride in trucks and private vehicles from Vytilla Junction towards these destinations is a common sight at nights. The KSRTC, on its part, mainly runs long-distance super class buses at nights which halt only at main stops. For instance, after 9 pm, the next bus to Vaikom is at 10.30 pm and then only at 1.10 am," said Amal Krishna, a native of Vaikom.

Meanwhile, the official said there is a decrease in the total number of buses being operated out of the hub compared to a year ago. “Both the KSRTC and the private buses have cut down a few services to places like Adimali among others,” he said. But M.B. Satyan, president of Ernakulam District Bus Operators Association, denied charges of cancellation of trips by private buses.