Rejoice KSRTC fans! Grab your cameras and get ready to board a bus to Pampa. ‘Team KSRTC Blog,’ a group of youngsters who run an unofficial blog to promote the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s fleet of buses, is all set to organise a KSRTC fan meet at the Pampa KSRTC Station on December 22.
According to the organisers, ‘KSRTC Bus Fans Meet’ is an informal gathering of those who share a liking for the Corporation’s fleet of buses. Aiming at the hardcore KSRTC fans, the organisers are planning an exclusive bus fanning trip from Pathanamthitta to Pampa and a ‘Bus Fanning Session’ at Pampa KSRTC Bus Station this time.
“This year, the highlight of the programme is the photography of buses. Anyone who got a camera can participate in the programme and take as many snaps of the buses. KSRTC buses and Pampa are a deadly combination,” said Sujith Bhakthan, one of the brains behind the blog.
According to Sujith, Pampa is an excellent bus fanning spot with the luxury of having more than a 100 buses parked in the vast ground always. With the Sabarimala season on, the Pampa KSRTC depot has become a hotspot of activities. The easy access from anywhere in the state makes it the perfect spot for the gathering.
“As many as 35 people participated in the previous edition of the meet. A handful of officials from the Corporation were also present at the gathering including the General Manager, Executive Director (Operations), Executive Director (Technical) and Pampa special officers. An interactive session with the officials was also arranged in which the fans made suggestions and ideas to improve the system,” Sujith said.
The fanning trip will begin from the Pathanamthitta depot at 9 am on the day on the bus arranged exclusively for the meet. The bus will reach Pampa by 11 am and the gathering will be conducted inside the bus in the parking lot. After the fanning session, while heading back to Pathanamthitta, a visit to the KSRTC parking ground in Nilackal will also be arranged.
“This is the third meet being organised by us. We are expecting people from various districts, including Kannur and Wayanad. Bangalore-based designer Jos F Scariah, who led the makeover process in the newly introduced Super Deluxe bus from Kochi to Bangalore and Santhosh Kuttan, a driver of Thiruvalla depot, who is behind the slogan “I Love My KSRTC” will participate in the meet along with KSRTC staff from various depots who support and love us,” Sujith said.
Launched five years ago, KSRTC Blog has become an encyclopaedia for KSRTC by including the news, pictures, videos, bus timings, complaint forums, feedbacks, bus reviews and forums to assist public in accessing various services provided by the Corporation. The group enjoys a fan following of more than 34,000 people on Facebook and more than 3,000 page visits per day to the blog. Registration for the meet can be made from the website.