The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is gearing up for the Sabarimala special services from key depots across the State during the forthcoming Mandala-Makaravilakku season.
The KSRTC, which is facing shortage of 2,078 drivers due to the termination of 2,378 empanelled drivers ordered by the High Court, has decided to operate special services as in the previous years.
A high-level meeting chaired by Chairman and Managing Director M.P. Dinesh worked out a road map for the smooth conduct of the special services. It has been decided to avoid online reservation for the Pampa-Nilackal services for the festive season and to issue single ticket to Ayyappa devotees.
ADVERTISEMENT
Chartered services of the KSRTC will be operated to Pampa and online reservation will be rolled out for long distance special services being operated to Sabarimala.
Air-conditioned services will be additionally operated in the Nilackal-Pampa corridor. Ticket and cash counter will function in the KSRTC bus station at Pampa when the special bus services commence to Sabarimala. Ticket and cash counter will be opened at Nilackal only if needed.
Initially, the KSRTC will commence workshop at Pampa for the immediate repairs of the stage carriers. Once the season advance, workshop will be opened at Nilackal.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Corporation is yet to decide on deploying conductors in the special services. The KSRTC will press into service 10 air-conditioned battery electric vehicles and 250 low-floor buses to ferry devotees round-the-clock on the Nilackal-Pampa-Nilackal route.
The Executive Director, Operations, has been appointed as the State-level coordinator for the 2019-20 special services. The STC Principal has been given the responsibility of the civil works in Pampa and Nilackal during the season.