The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will deploy Super Deluxe air buses for inter-State services. The non-air conditioned buses were launched by Minister for Health V.S. Sivakumar at the Central bus station at Thampanoor in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
The air buses will replace the 30 Super Express buses that are operating inter-State now.
Each bus costs Rs.22 lakh and has a push-back seat, facilities for charging mobile phones and laptops, driver-operated pneumatic door and reading lamp in all the 40 seats.
The Minister said the KSRTC would launch 100 buses in the coming Sabarimala season to cater to Ayyappa devotees. The KSRTC could put up a good show with 75 buses last year. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would convene a meeting at Pampa on October 24 to discuss arrangements for the pilgrim season.
The new bus terminal at Thampanoor would be commissioned in December. The foundation stone for the bus terminal at Eenchakkal would be laid next month, Mr. Sivakumar added.
Mayor K. Chandrika and Chairman and Managing Director of Natpac B.G. Sridevi attended the function.