Team News Riveting
Kochi, October 7
In a move aimed to compensate the loss of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the state government had decided to roll out the buses—not to ferry passengers but to carry the parcels.
The service would be resumed as part of the “100 days, 100 programmes” initiative of Kerala government. Taking leaf out of Indian Railways, the KSRTC would start a parcel service to tide over the losses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Besides the pandemic, hike in the price of diesel and spare parts have also put a strain on the state’s transport corporation, as a result of which it kick-started ”KSRTC Logistics” — an attempt to increase the revenue of the undertaking, apart from ticket sales.
Under this revised system, the modified vehicles of KSRTC would be used for transporting letters and parcels of various government departments, public sector units, constitutional bodies and even private institutions.
The State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) has assured that it will be availing the services of KSRTC for the transportation of COVID-19 food kits.
A senior office bearer of the Kerala State Transport Employees Union (KSTEU) said that although the project might not give an immediate relief, it would help in easing some of the strain of the undertaking.
On average, KSRTC earned Rs 6 crore to Rs 6.5 crore daily, he said, adding that out of it, Rs 3 crore was spent on fuel while remaining reserved for establishment expenditure. After the unlocking two months ago, the service still remained off road as corporation could not collect even Rs 2 crore daily.
