KOCHI: Efforts are under way to bring all private buses operating under the six limited liability partnership (LLP) companies and Kochi Metropolitan Transport Cooperative (KMTC) Society under one umbrella this fiscal, speakers at a function organised here to formally inaugurate the society said.
The function was attended by representatives of all the LLP companies, which together operate over 1,000 buses in the Greater Cochin / Goshree islands region. The umbrella body of private buses will further lessen the operational cost of buses, as they will get more discounts from suppliers of spare parts and tyres. They can also bargain more for discounts in fuel price and insurance premium.
It is noteworthy that buses under KMTC and LLP companies have already recorded a fall in operational expenses to 10% to 15% after the formation of the companies.
UMTA soon
The 1,000 private buses will be in addition to 500 KSRTC buses that will come under the ambit of the Unified Metropolitan Transportation Authority (UMTA) proposed for Kochi. “UMTA is expected to be formed by the end of the year once the State Assembly accords it legal sanction. This will enable route rationalisation and other steps to streamline operations,” sources said.
As many as 10 buses in the KMTC fleet are fitted with GPS, CCTV, and passenger information system to ensure reliability and safety. Passengers can also opt for pre-paid smart cards on the lines of Kochi-1 card of the Kochi metro.
As many as 120 KMTC buses operate in the metro-rail corridor, while other buses link the city with towns in the eastern suburbs.
