Not so long ago, there were 200-odd private buses operating in the Aluva route.
The number has now shrunk to around 70, going by the figures with the Private Bus Operators’ Association (PBOA), thanks largely to the introduction of city services by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) under the brand name, Thirukochi.
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When it was launched with 50 buses amid much fanfare six years ago, Thirukochi was hailed as the saviour of commuting public from the monopolistic clutches of private buses, dubious for rash and negligent operations by an unruly crew.
“With the advent of Thirukochi services, and later the KSRTC’s low-floor buses, the collection of private buses dropped heavily, making operations unfeasible. The Aluva route is a textbook case where bus owners either sold the buses or surrendered their permits only to witness Thirukochi services receding gradually. But, those private bus operators are reluctant to return to the scene since there is no guarantee that the KSRTC will not revive the services,” said M.B. Satyan of PBOA.
The KSRTC gradually diverted the buses used for operating Thirukochi services either for Sabarimala services or to depots in the suburbs.
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However, KSRTC sources said Thirukochi services had more or less been restored with an average of 27 to 33 schedules operated on a daily basis despite the limited fleet of 35 buses.
“In the wake of traffic blocks in the city owing to Kochi Metro works, we had rescheduled some services, extending it up to Aroor to log adequate kilometres. But, following all-round criticism about diversion, we had more or less restored services as per original schedules in the city,” a senior KSRTC official said.
Transportation expert Dijo Kappen said Thirukochi services had let down the travelling public in a big way despite the high patronage it enjoyed.
People fed up with the ways of private bus crew used to wait at bus stops for the arrival of Thirukochi buses, skipping empty private buses in the same route.