Here’s news ppl. ! Seven of the 50 low-floor Volvo buses earmarked for Kochi under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme will begin service in the city from Wednesday.
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.
This is great news ! Cruising through the city in one of these should be fun
happy to hear the news…hope no harthals and strike ruin the bus all the best
I AM A GREAT FAN OF VOLVO BUS AND I AM FROM TRIVANDRUM AND HAS RODE IN IT THIS IS VOLVO 8400 SERIES FOR CITY TRANSPORT.IT HAS GOT AUTOMATIC GEAR SYSTEM WITH THREE OPTIONS FOR THE DRIVER AND AND HAS A VERY NICE AUDIO SYSTEM OF JVC IN TVM THEY PUT CD OR FM RADIO AND THERE ARE AC DUCTS ABOVE EACH SEAT AND VERY NICE COOLING AND THERE ARE MOBILE CHARGING PINS BELOW THE SEATS AND SEATS ARE ARRANGED IN TWO DECKS AROUND 10 SEATS IN LOWER DECK REST ON UPPER DECK 2 DOORS IN FRONT AND IN THE MIDDLE.THERE ARE SWINGING CHAINS TO HOLD FOR THOSE WHO ARE STANDING WHICH MOVES FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS SO YOU DON’T FEEL THE INERTIAL EFFECT WE FACE WHILE HOLDING TO METAL RODS IN NORMAL BUS.THE STAFF IS ALSO VERY POLITE AND HELPFUL.I AM SURE IT WILL BE A VERY NICE EXPERIENCE,SO GUYS JUST ROCK ON IN THE NEW VOLVO
ONE MORE THING I FORGOT TO ADD THAT IS YOU WON’T FEEL MUCH OF THE POTHOLES IN THE ROAD EVEN THE HOLE OF JAPAN WATER PROJECT COULD NOT SHAKE IT IN TVM ALL THAT YOU WILL FEEL IS A GENTLE ROCKING NOT LIKE THE SEESAW EFFECT THAT WE SEE IN NORMAL BUSES AND MIND KEEP HOLDING TO THE SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE THE BREAKS ARE VERY POWERFUL AND SUDDEN BRAKING WILL BRING A SHIVER TO THE BUS AND YOU MIGHT FALL OUT OF YOUR SEATS AND THE SEATING IS ALSO NICE WITH BLUE COLOUR APHOLSTERY.SO GUYS HAPPY JOURNEY ACROSS THE QUEEN OF THE ARABIAN SEA
Itz a dream come true for me to travel in this wonderful Terra plane. Iam looking forward to it soon.
Can anyone tell me the timing of Airport to Fortkochi buses? I hope there are 3 buses plying in the route.
Can anyone tell me the timing of Airport to Fortkochi and return? I hope there are 3 buses plying in the route.
Hey guys, this is really cool.. last year i took a volvo bus(local service) from chennai central to mamalapuram…that time i wondered when kerala will have such buses in local services… well what do you know.. its already here.
But guys can anyone know whats the daily timmings..???
its great to hear about low floor buses in city
but why dont they introduce inter state volvo buses
like kochi – bangalore ??? kochi – chennai etc ???
2010 is born with receipt of some good news in which the VOLVOs are get started rout in Kochi and it is great pleasure to us to travel in comfortable way and we (IT-INFOPARK) are eagerly expecting the rout to Infopark.
Its a good suggestion suggested by Mr. Tony. If this Low Floor Buses are expanding their route to Infopark, which is great pleasure to Infopark people.
But I heard that info park route proposed is Aroor- vytilla-thrippunithura-Info park. Why dont they start some buses in the Infor park- kakkanad- palarivattom bypass-vytilla-Arror route also as this will be more faster and a boon to passengers from southern side of the city.
These buses are gonna stay fresh and nice until the next hartal.
its very difficult to keep the busses clean and higienic,so i am requesting the passengers and the department to keep the bus neat and clean.plz co operate
@ vipul.. awesome comment bro.. u r absloutely rite.. we can ssee soon a sad volvo parked smewhr wid broken windshield.. and hartahal anukoolikal do all this like they get sme credit frm smewhr.. loosers..
Sad to note tt these buses are running on loss. It is a suggestion tt, new service routes to be worked out.,probably try on the kottayam-ernakulam leg on peak time.(morning and evening)