The long awaited night-time service of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) might become a reality by September, bringing relief to commuters who arrive late in the city and personnel manning shops that down shutters after 8 p.m.
The RTC was reluctant to operate them despite promises made over the years by Transport Ministers. Subsequently, commuters who arrive at many busy junctions in the city are stranded for a long period or are at the mercy of autorickshaw drivers who fleece them. People who are desperate to reach their destination on time hitchhike in goods carriers that pass through the NH Bypass and other roads that do not have adequate bus services after around 8 p.m.
“We are expected to get 250 low-floor buses by August end, while trips operated by the Kerala Urban Road Transport Corporation (KURTC) buses are in for major rescheduling. This will lessen the strain on existing buses, a few of which could be deployed during night along key routes in Kochi,” said KSRTC managing director Antony Chacko. He hinted at operating buses in circular routes (such as the Vyttila-Menaka-Vyttila route).
The 600-odd private city buses refuse to operate after 8 p.m., citing single shift for drivers that begins at 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. Private bus owners have over the years been citing how the KSRTC is better placed to operate night trips since it has multiple shifts.
A senior KURTC official said there has been widespread demand for night-time buses. “Trips can be operated from suburbs to city hub and from key areas of the city to Aluva and Chertala. All low-floor buses from KSRTC bus depot here will shortly be shifted to KURTC’s Thevara depot. Once this is done, working time of select crew members of KURTC and KSRTC can be rearranged in such a way that they join for the evening shift, manning night buses up to 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.”
For this, their viewpoint too will be considered since crew members prefer double duty for three days, following which they get a four-day break including weekly day off. This system might get upset for those doing evening shift. Some of them might also not get public transport to go home after 11 p.m, he said.
Reacting to the proposal, T.P. Venu, district secretary of KSRTC Employees Association (CITU), said crew manning night service buses would have to work a few hours extra than their counterparts in other shifts. “But crew members might not mind working extra if they are given incentives,” Mr. Venu said.
