It is common to see city commuters stranded at busy junctions in the night hitching a ride even in goods carriers. more-in With most city buses ending service before 9 p.m., leaving hundreds of commuters stranded, the demand that KSRTC begin night bus services is gaining momentum in Kochi. It is common to see commuters stranded at busy junctions in the city, including at Vyttila, the biggest junction in Kerala, hitching a ride even in goods carriers. This is mainly because of inadequate or nil bus services to destinations in the city and to suburban towns. Assurance by high-ranking KSRTC officials that the agency would operate buses at least up to 11 p.m. dates back to 2012. They had promised that the agency would operate buses on arterial and circular routes every 30 minutes or even at lesser frequency, depending on demand. “Such services will benefit commuters who arrive in the city late, sales personnel and others who work late into the night. Online taxis and autorickshaws are tough to get after 8.30 p.m. or 9 p.m. In their desperation, commuters take an autorickshaw ride, often ending up being fleeced by drivers,” said an official of the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD). He added that action can be taken against private or KSRTC buses if they do not operate as per timings issued in the permit. “Commuters can send specific complaints to us.” Failed promise The KSRTC had in 2012 promised that a few of the 90 Tirukochi buses that were to be purchased using ‘Plan funds’ would be deployed on select routes till late in the night, heeding to a demand from residents’ associations, merchants’ bodies and other organisations. “The KSRTC is better placed to operate night services since it has multiple shifts, unlike private buses that have only single shift. There is demand for such buses on circular routes like Vyttila-Ernakulam-Vyttila and to places like Cherthala, Kakkanad, Thripunithura and West Kochi,” said a senior KSRTC official. “We hope this can be realised if flexible fare system is introduced for buses, wherein those that operate after, say 9 p.m., can have a higher fare structure. This will benefit both KSRTC and commuters who otherwise have to pay many times more to travel in autos or taxi cars,” he added. Responding to the issue, KSRTC chairman and managing director Tomin J. Thachankary said that night services can be looked into since the double duty system in the agency has made way for single duty system, wherein steering hours of bus crew has been limited to seven hours. This has in turn lessened the strain on drivers, lessening the number of accidents and instances of rash driving, KSRTC officials said.

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