The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will not lose the ₹42.37 crore from the Plan fund sanctioned by the State government in the previous Budget.
In a press release, the transport utility that has been facing a severe financial crisis said the funds sanctioned for implementing various projects in the KSRTC during the 2021-22 financial year could be utilised this fiscal as well. The government had allocated ₹99.91 crore from the Plan fund for the KSRTC in the previous financial year. Of this, administrative sanction was issued for ₹87.20 crore. The utility submitted bills to the tune of ₹78.73 crore. However, as the Finance department withdrew ₹40.37 crore from the district treasury, only ₹38.36 crore was given.
Though the KSRTC has been allocated ₹105 crore as Plan fund this fiscal, the pending ₹40.37 crore would also be made available, if required, said the KSRTC.
Fares to relooked
The Transport department is likely to revise the bus fare hike it effected last week following a strike by the private bus operators.
A high-level meeting to be held next week would look into the grievances of the public and the private bus operators in connection with the new fares, said sources. On the one hand, the bus operators were not happy with the new fare slab that left student concessions untouched. On the other, the revision would result in higher fares in some slabs as the distance to be covered under the minimum fare has been reduced to 2.5 km from 5 km. All these issues will be looked into at the high-level meeting to be chaired by the Minister.
KSRTC-SWIFT routes
The State government has announced the services of buses owned by the newly formed company, KSRTC-SWIFT.
Online booking for the services began on Thursday. Tickets can be booked through the website www.online.keralartc.com and the mobile app enteksrtc.
Selected passengers in the opening route of Thiruvananthapuram-Bengaluru will be given free return tickets which the passengers can redeem in three months. This scheme will be available in other newly opened routes till April 30 with riders. Those booking tickets online on selected routes will be given a discount of up to 30% on the ticket price. The bus services will start on April 11 at 5.30 p.m. with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan flagging off the opening service.
