KOCHI: The Kerala State Transport Corporation (KSRTC)on Wednesday submitted before the Kerala High Court that it has ample resources to operate long-distance services with its 92 depots and sub-depots, garages and other passenger amenity centres.
The KSRTC also pointed out that there were complaints against private stage carriages for operating services only at timings profitable to them, cold-shouldering the student community, and indulging in unhealthy competition with KSRTC services, and between themselves.
Corporation filed the counter-affidavit in response to a petition filed by Kerala State Bus Passengers Association seeking a directive to issue temporary permit in respect to Fast Passenger and other super class stage carriages services as a stopgap arrangement.The Corporation stated that it was ready and willing to operate any number of long-distance services to meet the traffic demands of the state.
It has decided to buy 1,790 new buses, of which 500 are for operating fast passenger and other super class services.
The chassis of the buses would be purchased through e-procurement. The state government has entrusted the KSRTC, the duty of providing economical, efficient and coordinated passenger transport. The Corporation also plans to hike its service trips, employees, district offices, sub-district offices and workshops.
The permits issued to the private sector on or before the notification will be allowed to continue till the date of expiry. There after, no permit shall be renewed, and the process of granting temporary permits will be stalled.
The Corporation has launched 43 super class services owing to the expiry of the permit of the stage carrier operators. These services have been launched to avoid any inconvenience to the general public .
There was no contention from any quarters on the long-distance services. The Corporation is managing its long-distance services with utmost care, catering to the needs of the commuters, it pointed out.
The Corporation also stated that it was providing a multitude of services to the public, even overlooking profitability, the affidavit stated. It had to operate many services to tribal,hilly and coastal areas, and to economically backward areas to cater to the needs of people, it stated.