Kerala State Road Transport Corporation

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation is the state run bus company in the Indian State of Kerala.It is one of the oldest state run public bus transport services in India.

History

The KSRTC began as the Travancore State Transport Department, constituted by the erstwhile Travancore Government with a view to reorganize the transport service of the erstwhile state of Travancore. Mr E.G. Salter, Assistant, Operating Superintendent of London Passenger Transport Board was appointed as Superintendent of the Transport Department on 20th September 1937. It grew in size with nationalisation of key inter-state routes such as Thiruvanathapuram to Kanyakumari and Palakkad to Coimbatore The first fleet consisted of 60 Comet chassis fitted with Perkins diesel engines, imported from England. The bus body was built by the staff of the Travancore State Transport Department under the supervision of Mr Salter himself. The selection of operating staff remains as a model which has been followed by the present staff as well. The department gave preference in recruitment for those who were likely to lose their jobs in the private transport companies due to the nationalization of Thiruvanathapuram Kanyakumari route. Thus, the Transport Department started with a staff of about a hundred graduates appointed as Inspectors and Conductors.

The State Motor Service was inaugurated by His Highness Sree Chithirathirunal on 20.2.1938. His Highness and his kin were the first passengers of the inauguration trip and Mr. Salter was himself the driver to that bus. This bus along with the 33 other buses brought on road driving through the Kawdiar Square was an attraction at that time.

Consequent on the enactment of Road Transport Corporation Act in 1950, Govt. of Kerala formulated KSRTC rules in 1965 by sec.44 and the department was converted into an autonomous corporation on 1st April 1965. The Kerala State road Transport Corporation was established by the government of Kerala by the notification dated, 15th March 1965.

In 1995 KSRTC ventured into the technical education field as well with the starting of an engineering college named Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering at Pappanamcode in its Central Workshop premises.

Present Fleet

The corporation has a fleet consisting of Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, Volvo bus and Eicher minibusses. The distribution is as follows:

* Total number of buses: 4704
** 2940 Ashok Leyland
** 1562 Tata Motors
** 200 Eicher
** 30 A/C luxury buses

* Out of these 2124 buses ( 45.15% ) are aged more than 7 years of life.
* There are nearly 366 buses (7.78%) above 10 years of age being scrapped.

New services introduced

* Low Floor Ananthapuri Air Bus : 12
* Ananthapuri City Fast : 140
* Kerala A/C Air Bus : 30

Facts

* The daily scheduled distance for bus services has increased from 12,00,000 km to 14,22,546 km. [ [http://www.keralartc.com/html/aboutus.html All about KSRTC ] ]
* Nearly 4704 buses run on a busy, tight schedule with an overwhelming 4232 schedules everyday.
* Average passengers transported in a day is 31.45 Lakhs (3.145 millions)

Fares

In that one glance you will be able to understand the righteous fare distribution and the welcoming fare rates of the present KSRTC. In pursuance of the Govt Order G.O.(P) No.30/2008/Tran dated 11-07-2008 the rate of fares are revised and implemented in the state for various services as follows:55 paise for City/Ordinary Services, 57 paise for City Fast/Fast Passenger/Limited Stop Fast Passenger Services, 60 paise for Super Fast Services, 65 paise for Super Express Services, 75 paise for Super Deluxe/Semi Sleeper Services, 90 paise for Luxury/High-Tech/Air Conditioned Services and 110 paise for Volvo Services.The prescribed minimum charge as revised are: Rs.4.00 for City/Ordinary services/City Fast Services, Rs.5.00 for Fast passenger/ Limited Stop Fast Passenger Services, Rs.10.00 for Super Fast Services, Rs.15.00 for Super Express, Rs.20 for Super Deluxe/ Semi Sleeper Services and Rs.30 for Luxury/Hi-tech/Air Conditioned/Volvo Services.The revised fares effect from 00.00 hours on 12-07-2008.Half a 'Chakram' was the minmum fare in 1938. The first class tickets had cost 50% more than the coordinating rate. During that period free travelling was allowed for children up to 3 years and only half the fare for children aged till 14 yrs. There were no luggage tickets as such but when the luggage weighed more than 28 pounds up to 56 pounds it had the levy of 4 chakras and luggage or luggages that weighed more than 56 pounds had the levy of 6 chakras up to 112 pounds and above. Since the Chakram had triple the value of a 100 rupee currency note today, the cost of travelling was comparatively higher during those days.

External links

* http://www.keralartc.com/
* http://www.keralamotorvehicles.com
* http://sctce.ac.in/

References