The buses with automatic transmission, each of which costs Rs. 80 lakh, need an income of Rs.50 per km to operate on a no-profit no-loss basis. The average income in Kochi is Rs.36 per km, while that in Thiruvananthapuram is Rs.28 per km. In January first week, the seven buses plying in Kochi earned an average of Rs.40 per km, while those in the State capital got Rs.35 per km.

At present, the four buses on the Aroor-Angamaly route fetch Rs.38 per km, while the two on the Fort Kochi-International Airport route earn Rs.35 per km. The total earnings from the six buses fell from Rs.81,930 on January 2 to Rs.78,090 on Thursday. Each 40-seater bus runs an average of 330 km a day and records an average occupancy of 55 per cent, down from 60 per cent a fortnight ago.

The earning is down to Rs.11,880 a bus, down from Rs.13,000 a fortnight ago. The cost of operating a km in Kochi is lower than in Thiruvananthapuram because many roads in the capital have been dug up for laying water pipelines. The buses plying in Kochi have a mileage of 2.50 km per litre of diesel, while it is 2.25 kmpl in the capital city.

Due to lack in Parking facilities ?

KSRTC MD T.P. Senkumar said that passenger patronage would increase only if the Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram Corporations readied pay-and-park facilities for cars and two-wheelers near bus stops, and provided better shelters for commuters awaiting the buses. Referring to the two Corporations demanding a stake in running the Volvo-bus fleet, he said that the respective RTC’s in other States own and operate premium buses purchased under the JNNURM scheme.

In the case of Kochi, KSRTC will spend Rs.72 crore on the total of 50 Volvo, 120 non-AC low-floor and 30 mini buses under the scheme. The Kochi Corporation has not committed any of its funds for the project. If the civic agencies cannot provide better amenities to commuters, let them run the services using their workers.

Wooing passengers

The schedules in the capital will be modified in a week, to attract more passengers. In Kochi, the KSRTC plans to market the premium buses by installing boards that mention the stops and timings of the buses, at prominent locales. It might also increase the number of stops. Three weeks since it began operating in Kochi, many people do not know that they can travel in air-conditioned comfort up to 5 km, by paying the minimum fare of Rs.10.

Earmarking pay-and-park centres will take time. Since the buses ply mostly along the highway (except in West Kochi), the KSRTC must take up the issue of bus shelters with the PWD and the NHAI. The RTC must give publicity to its bus stops and timings and reassure people about the promptness of the services, to make the services more effective.

Clearly , we are a city that has a lot of people who are ready to pay the cost whatsoever in travelling in such buses. So park you expensive vehicles at home, and start traveling in these uber comfortable buses at very economical prices.  That way , we are also finding a solution to the traffic issues, one that Cochin is very famous for.

And as for those people who are still questioning the routes the buses ply on , the RTC is looking into the matter , and hopefully will come up with smart decisions .

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They would be inaugurated at Vytilla Junction on Monday evening  by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs K.V. Thomas.

Details of the bus routes : Three buses will ply on the Fort Kochi-NH bypass-International Airport route, a distance of 45 km that will be covered in 1 hour and 35 minutes. The fare for the full stretch would be Rs 70 and there would be 27 halts on the route. The other four buses will conduct services along the 43-km Aroor-NH bypass-Angamaly route in 1 hour 30 minutes. The fare for the entire journey is Rs 68 and there will be 27 halts.

Bus timings and fares : The buses will conduct seven services from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., said Mayor Mercy Williams, at a press conference  organised on  Saturday .  Passengers can travel up to 5 km by paying the minimum fare of Rs 10. They can travel  each additional km in air-conditioned comfort for Rs 1.50. The fare comes to just around one-fourth of the taxi  fare.

The Mayor Mercy Williams  said the bus services  would have more  passenger patronage than in  Thiruvavanthapuram (where the KSRTC operates eight such buses) since businessmen, entrepreneurs and a  sizeable floating population dominate Kochi’s population. They would be willing to pay the higher fare for public  transport. The Kochiites’ fad for going on frequent outings and shopping too  would ensure a higher passenger  preference than in the State capital, Ms Williams said.

What more to expect ? : In addition to the 50 buses, the KSRTC is to  introduce 120 non-AC low-floor Ashok Leyland  buses and 30 mini buses in the city under the JNNURM scheme, to encourage car, autorickshaw and bike  passengers to shift to a comfortable mode of public transport. The adjustable platform of the low-floor buses  helps easy boarding and alighting. There is a special facility for wheelchair-bound passengers. Their chairs can be fixed inside the 42-seater bus. An on-board diagnostic system helps the driver to detect mechanical problems.

Twenty drivers and 20 conductors have undergone training at Volvo’s training centre in Bangalore. They also attended a refresher course recently in Kochi. The next set of buses will join the fleet based  on the feedback received for the  first set. The Corporation of Cochin has requested the State government to constitute a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for managing the fleet so  that it too has a say in decision-making .

What does all this mean ??? Well , the answer is quite simple. Luxury & Convenience ..!  Kudos to JNNURM and the State Government.