The desperate attempt by the state government to rescue the financially ailing Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) by devising new projects is a welcome move. In fact, the “Grama Vandi” project, the first-of-its-kind in the country to operate a dedicated state-owned bus within grama panchayats is a right move in that direction. The project may not a big money earner for KSRTC but it reiterates the fact that KSRTC is always committed to serve the people.
While flagging off a KSRTC bus service at Chendamangalam village under the Grama Vandi project a few days back, Transport Minister Antony Raju made statement that a KSRTC bus will be provided to those grama panchayats that make a request for the same.
The Minister added that the KSRTC was launching people-welfare projects even under dire circumstances to serve the people. “Public transport facilities are for the welfare of the people. KSRTC has many limitations to start new bus services but still it’s doing the best it can,” he said.
The Grama Vandi project is being launched in collaboration with Local Self-Government Department. While respective panchayats will fund the cost of diesel for operating the bus service within the panchayat, the KSRTC will bear the cost of salary of driver, conductor and maintenance from ticket sales. The panchayat will decide the route and timings of the bus. Panchayats can also take revenue from advertisements on the buses.
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