Resentment is brewing over the cancellation of many services by the KSRTC connecting the eastern parts of Kottayam to their nearest town, Erattupetta.
In line with its decision to withdraw loss-making services, the KSRTC Erattupetta unit has cancelled several of its services to the villages lying in and around Wagamon, a major hill station. The cancellations have made it much difficult for passengers, including schoolchildren, to reach their destinations on time. The existing services are insufficient to clear the rush. The cancellations have also triggered frequent altercations between the bus employees and the public. “The people in these villages are dependent on the KSRTC and now jostle they on overcrowded buses for a toehold,” said a KSRTC employee.
Double the capacity
He said the buses connecting villages such as Cholathadam, Parathanaam, and Kaippally now accommodated passengers at least double its actual capacity. “The routes on the hilly regions have sharp turns, steep drop-offs and narrow passages, and excess passengers pose a safety risk,” he added.
Political parties including the CPI(M) and the Janapaksham have protested against the move. A section of commuters is planning to approach the Motor Vehicles Department and the local police, citing safety risks.
Officials with the KSRTC unit in Erattupetta attributed the move to a directive from the higher-ups and shortage of staff in the unit. “The unit is being operated using just 16 conductors as against 49 persons earlier. The termination of empanelled employees has rendered seven buses in the unit non-operational. The services to the hill routes will be re-instated with the allocation of a new conductors,” said Johnson, unit manager.
