The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : KSRTC booking goes online

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Thursday, Nov 19, 2009
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

KSRTC booking goes online

Special Correspondent

Reservation possible for 188 services

Service available round the clock
KSRTC to implement GPS-based vehicle tracking services

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurated the online reservation facility of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) here on Wednesday.

The system facilitates booking of tickets for 188 bus services of the KSRTC on the web site keralartconline.com using credit and debit cards.

Reservations can also be made through the online counters of the Corporation at Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kottarakkara, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Bangalore (Majestic and Satellite) bus stations.

Reservation is available for a few ordinary as well as air-conditioned and Volvo services. (The web site shows booking facility only on one direction for some of the services). Cancellations can also be made online.

There will be a transaction fee of Rs. 20 for each ticket reserved online in addition to reservation charges.

Cancellation charge

Cancellation charge will be 25 per cent of the ticket rate if cancelled 24 hours before departure.

The refund will be only 50 per cent for cancellations made between 1 to 24 hours prior to departure.

Talking to reporters after the inauguration of the reservation system, Transport Minister Jose Thettayil said the system runs from the KSRTC’s own data centre using free software.

The services, including a help desk, will be available round the clock.

GPS-based

The Minister said the KSRTC would shortly implement Geographical Positioning System-based vehicle tracking services. The formalities for this have been completed.

The proposed courier service had not taken off owing to poor response. The service would be retendered, he said.

No fare hike

Mr. Thettayil said a hike in bus fares was not under consideration of the government. The demand of private bus operators for fare hike could not be conceded at short notice. It called for policy decisions.

Asked about the protest by autorickshaw drivers against the newly introduced low-floor city bus service to the airport here, the Minister said the routes would not be changed. Care would be taken to ensure that the buses were kept clean.

He said about 5,000 drivers would be given training at the Institute of Drivers’ Training and Research to improve their driving skills.

A training programme for tipper lorry drivers will begin on November 29.

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