KOCHI: Kalamassery Co-operative Medical College was elevated to Ernakulam Medical College a year ago, but neither the state government nor the district administration have done anything to improve the transportation facilities to the hospital.
The private buses are the only means of transportation for the patients and bystanders to reach the hospital, but trip curtailments pose a major problem. Though the Motor Vehicle Department had announced to provide ‘blanket sanction’ to private bus owners, no one has come forward. Experts point out that the private bus operators keep away from the route due to problems related to profit sharing.
“To get transportation from the medical college after 3 pm is a huge problem. Hundreds of OP patients are affected by this since they have no other means of travel. Though MVD has assured to divert the buses plying along the Seaport-Airport road to the hospital, nothing has come out of it. The 50 cents of land allotted for the bus station too remains underutilised,” said Sreekala, principal, Kalamassery Medical college.
But the MVD department’s hands are tied. “As part of policy liberalisation we can’t force private bus owners to start a service in this route. We have started taking action against the buses who curtail trips to the medical college,” said a top MVD official passing on the buck to KSRTC saying they can do something.
“Only KSRTC can do something. They had even assured to start some services. There are no restrictions on them to start a service,” said the official. When contacted G Balamurali, District Transport Officer, KSRTC said that they are yet to receive a memorandum from the medical college citing transport issues. “Once we get a request from the medical college authorities we will take it up with top officials,” assured Balamurali.