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Monday, May 24, 2010

Its Time To Replace The Interstate Buses (Premium Services)



Volvo Buses

Most of the premium buses are running to Bangalore. Kerala RTC was the corporation which introduced Volvo buses first time in south India as a brand name "Garuda". But now what is the condition? Our brand name "Garuda" itself is taken by APSRTC. Lets check out our neighboring state Karnataka. Now they have plenty of volvo buses for interstate services and city services. Kerala RTC is still running a super fast bus to Mangalore from Thiruvananthapuram. Karnataka RTC started a new Volvo service on the same rout and it is getting a good response from the passengers. Also Karnataka RTC is trying new kind of buses like TATA Hispano, Isuzu, Benz etc..

Nowadays people prefer comfort and luxurious journey for long trips. So they would never mind paying some hundreds extra for it. That is what all private operators like Kallada, Shama, SRM, Sofiyalines, etc started Multi Axle Volvo buses.  But unfortunately our RTC's budget is not allowing to do anything. Let us hope that our RTC will buy some volvo buses and replace all those TATA's AC Air buses. (Heard a rumor that, they are doing so) :-)

TATA Globus (Ac Air Bus)

These buses also introduced recently and now becoming a major problem for the passengers. Regular break down, Poor AC, Failure of AC etc are the main problems of this buses. Nowadays you can see heavy droplets of water falling through AC vents, some passengers use curtains to wipe the water off them. As a company body (TATA Globus) this is the condition of TATA bus. For this reason we can give the credits for our body building units, because none of our buses reports these types of issues.

Super Deluxe Air Buses


At present we have around 30 Super deluxe air buses. All of them are built by KSRTC's Central Workshop, Thiruvananthapuram. Almost all the buses are in such a pathetic situation now. These buses are introduced just two years back, but our TN series buses looks better than these buses. Daily trips without any rest and poor maintenance is the cause for it.

The main examples are of Kottarakkara Bangalore, Kozhikkode Bangalore buses. Recently we lost one of the Kottarakkara Bangalore deluxe bus from this group, which met with an accident near Dharmapuri.

KSRTC does not have any spare buses for the interstate services. Kottarakkara Bangalore service is now running with a spare super fast bus of Palakkad bus. Shortage of buses are the main problem and drawback of Kerala RTC.

KSRTC should conduct a poll or studies regarding what the long trip passengers prefer? By doing such type of activities they can improve themselves by knowing the mind of passengers, that what they are expecting.

25 comments:

  1. Hi Sujith

    This very true that our KSRTC is very behind in introducing new bus to there Group comparing to other state except TNSTC , they also maintain bus very badly. Super Fast or FP buses of Ashok leyland is far better than the current Super Delux buses. I used to Travel in Thiruvalla-Bangalore , Gurvayour-Bangalore and Perintalmanna-Bangalore buses but still i feel comfortable with the Trissur-Mysore FP(LS) which is maintained properly even after 4 or 5 yrs of its service.
    I think more than introducing New volvo or AC buses they should keep more imp to have this bus clean properly other wise after a time people will again shift to Private buses.

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  2. Very good post. Those super fast, express buses and as u said those TN series buses are better then our deluxe buses. Shame on ksrtc.

    Today in paper i saw a news that Karnataka RTC is planning to buy 10 new multi axle volvo buses.

    Kerala rtc should learn a lot from them,

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  3. Hi Sujith.

    Rather than putting up more buses, the focus is to improve our roads right now. The National Highways are getting really crowded these days. A train would take lesser time as compared to a bus is the journey is from one part of Kerala to another.

    The govt and the opposition party do not want to expand the highway according to NH standards!! Now, if our Govt's stand is like this, how are we the commuters going to travel by buses, they would opt for comfortable journey by a train.

    I would love to see our own KSRTC buying VOLVOS for inter state travel, but I am sure that it wont happen in another decade!!!

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  4. KERALA is ruled by outdated politicians irrespective LDF/UDF!!!!!!!!!Thats why all (leaders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) went to capital for cut short the Highway to 30meters!!!!!!
    They do not know world around laugh at them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    They can run over the people with escort!!!!!!!!!!!!
    This is our fate!!!!!!!!!!

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  5. Dear,
    A very good eyeopening point to the KSRTC Management. Every day around 50 luxury buses operate from Trivandrum to various places viz Bangalore, Chennai etc. Every day these buses are packed and have seen many times my friends running for tickets. Same time take the case of KSRTC there is only one Volvo bus operating to Bangalore and that too in a pathetic condition. More often the workers behaviour is not at all good. I am an ardent supporter of KSRTC, but cant hide the fact. Around 8 multi axle volvo service is being operated to bangalore from trivandrum by private operators like KPN, Shama, SRS, Sofiyaline etc.. Even other state transport corporations have introduced this multiaxle volvo..still our KSRTC is totaly in dark. The management may ask "What lies in Multi Axle " That is the attitude. Dont always make voice that "KSRTC is running in loss"..Make ways to over come that. Now a days there is more requirement for long jouney with luxury..thanx to the Indian Railways that gives least preference to Kerala. Lot of IT people travel to bangalore. If they are given good comfort they will travel in KSRTC. So this is hightime. bring some luxury vehicle.. Bring profit.

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  6. This is a very good topic which must be discussed with more importance now.

    KSRTC must start more services from Thrissur or Ernakulam to other parts of Karnataka.

    KSRTC must use the brand name GARUDA for the volvo buses.

    KSRTC must operate more VOLVO buses to Bangalore. Bangalore people prefer VOLVO buses to travel because they wont get tired by the long travel and they can go for their normal work on the same day once they reach Bangalore.

    KSRTC must operate one more VOLVO bus between TVM and Bangalore. Let the Kottarakara bus be extended to TVM so that one VOLVo gets operated through the MC road.

    One VOLVO bus each from Ernakulam, Kannur, Kozhikkode, Malappuram and Thrissur are required towards Bangalore.

    Convert the Interstate Superfast buses to Coimbatore from Trivandrum, Kottarakara, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Ernakulam to AC Express buses.

    Convert CHRY- Velankanni Super Exp bus to AC Express bus.

    Convert TVM - Mangalore SF bus to AC express bus.

    Convert KTM-Mangalore S EXP bus also to AC Express bus.

    Above all this maintenance and cleaning of the buses must be done in a proper way.

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  7. Geez....

    KSRTC running Volvos(forget Multi Axle Volvos)??
    May be in dream atleast for 10 years.

    I am regular traveller in private Volvos in Ktym-Bnglre route and am ready to switch over to KSRTC "if it starts one"

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  8. Well said Arun.. Our RTC will not do anything.. There is no use in we talking endlessly about this.

    Since I dont prefer travelling by private buses, I have started using Karnataka's Volvo to kottayam. It starts from Kottayam at 6 and reaches madiwala by around 6-7. Fare is 695 (including everything).

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  9. Printout of all the comments and posts related to Bangalore is given to the KSRTC Officials.

    And we are waiting for the response from the special officers in Bangalore. Thanks everyone.

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  10. yes sujith, you are right!Initially when buses body were built by irizar-tvs during ganesh kumar's tenure everyone complained about the quality. Now look at the quality of these delux buses(horrible). Even other buses too.Again ac globus buses built by tata again are horrible( interiors and a/c). I feel the buses built by hi-tech , alappuzha was much better than present delux buses. KSrtc should emphasize on building the body through good builders like prakash/sutlej etc. KSRTC should introduce multi-axle volvos through their busy routes like tvm, tsr and kottarakara. I was a frequent traveller of sharma from bangalore- mumbai. Recently i found all their volvos are converted to multi-axle in this route and their ordinary volvos are sent to different routes in kerala . We know Ke srtc maintain their timings so if they migrate from globus to volvos they will fetch more patronage. Recently we could see people preferring SRM and Sofiyalines r mainly due to their on-time performance and comfort. Initially we had lot of private operators but even with a single multi-axle bus sofiyalines are the hot favorite. Same with SRM also. I think Kesrtc also can come upto this mark if they run good buses like SRM. Im sure karnatakaSRTC cant catch up because they are no way comparable in terms of speed(comfort is ok). So ksrtc should think of getting volvos or triple-axle benz buses. Im sure they can catch the market from private operators and karnatka transport corp.

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  11. Ippol ulla oru volvo thanne nallathu pole otikkan ksrtckku ariyilla. appozhanu multi axle busum triple axle busumokke....

    malayalikalkku fastum superum okke mathiyenne...

    ksrtc bangalorekku ethra bus otikkanamennum enthu type bus otikkanamennokke theerumanikkunnathu aara? ksrtc unnatharano?

    athinokke ivite vere alukalunde....

    kalladayum shamayum sofiyayumokke ivite ulla kalam ksrtc oru koppum cheyyan pokunnilla.

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  12. Deluxe buses built was KSRTC is pathetic. The other buses are alright (baring the ones from Mavelikara). It wont be a bad idea to give the body building of deluxes and above to private players (preferably Prakash). By doing so they can increase the durability of the bus.

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  13. Hello Kallada fan,

    Who said ksrtc drivers dont know how to maneuver volvos.Its because they run fast you peole think like that. Look at even sofiyalines. Its also in the same condition. To be honest, KSRTC volvo is much better than shama and kallada's volvo(except the latest). So pls dont compare those with ksrtc. There are some problems and flaws in ksrtc. Still ksrtc maintains the best time record than most shama and kallada. I have seen the thrissur a/c bus overtaking most of the private buses enroute . You pay more and reach home late.....thats disgusting. Let;s hope ksrtc to be back on track in terms of bus quality soon and in terms of puncatuality - already they r(even with bad buses)...hats off to them!!!

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  14. Hay, Kallada fan

    Evide karyangal theerumanikkan vere aalukal und.. Ninne pole ulla private bus MAFIA ude cash kond alla KSRTC odunnath.
    Ninne okke othukkan najagalude SUPER FAST dharalam mathi....

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  15. To all Interstate Private bus fans

    Dont be oversmart. All of us know that upcoming of KSRTC volvos are prevented by you. Your journey has no guarantee... Always late... Charge huge... AC faliure... Non availability of buses... Halting for an hour in petrol bunks.... You understand one thing. People hire your bus as they have no other ways. One KSRTC can accommodate how many people??

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  16. A KSRTC FAN

    hey KALLADA fan, first tell your staff behave properly to the passengers... then please ask them to wear a watch to make sure that they run on time...KORGNATE KAYIL poomala kittuna pole anu kalladayude kayil volvo kittunthu..multi axle volvo yude condition oru 6 masam kazingu kanam...
    Reportedly kallada multiaxile volvo that runs between alpy and blore met with an accident causing damages to its rear within a minth of its introduction.
    swantham pallinte ida kuthi nattikale...

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  17. Our SF and FP are very good than kallada, at least it dont have a MOOTA and PATTA issue. All the sleepers are in very bad condition of this private operator and they are still charging a heavy rates and very rude behaviour. I think in this rainy season kallada/yathra will have to give Popy umberlla to all pasengers as there buses are always leaking and they wont give a option for change of bus even there other buses are running empty. There employees behave like we are travelling free of cost or doing some favour to us by running this buses.




    Regards
    Anup.Nair

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  18. finally good news I came to know from the authorities that KSRTC has placed order for multi axle volvos and they will start operation soon

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  19. Thats a wonderful news...but lets see how long it will take to get it done in reality...as earlier we heard about KSRTC buying new volvos and the present ones came after 2 years. Then its not only the IT people who travels from Bangalore to Kerala. Many others are travelling and non-ITians make use of KSRTC more.....ITians always prefer private buses...see we the crowd in Madiwala...and they pay huge amount to these private operators by which they can still challenge KSRTC using money. Madiwala is not Bangalore.....Its just a part on Bangalore.....and you guys better support others to improve KSRTC by travelling in that more rather than just commenting on it....recently in my trip in our Garuda...i had an experience where our Garuda reached Madiwala at around 5.45 pm and need to wait for 2 guys for around 15 minutes there.When they came they were just cool and when the driver told them that from now onwards it is not possible for KSRTC to wait for any passengers more than 5 minutes in any pick up point. Then those guys commented that they left their office (Infosys-i saw their ID) and due to traffic. they got late. They told the driver/conductor that they have asked to pick them from another place which is after madiwala since they know that they will be late reaching Madiwala. Then the driver told that its not possible to pick passengers from all the places where they want. Also he told that all other passengers who boarded the bus from Satellite Bus stand also works and they adjust to catch the bus much earlier than those guys. Then one of the guys told that its not just KSRTC is operating buses to Kerala and they can take Kallada or Sofialines which will wait for them anywhere they ask. The driver then said...there is no point to discuss more and asked those guys to go to their seats....on the way to Salem....this KSRTC bus over took many other private volvos and everyone was looking back to these guys with a smile......See what i want to tell everyone that its though us only KSRTC will grow and not by just the Government. Yes, we all know that IT people can go in any bus which they want. But now the situation is changed. Now even IT people started travelling in our state buses.They have come down to earth from a high level after the recession and now other people who do other jobs are equivalent to them. I pray to got that ITians don't make our KSRTC also costlier to travel as they did in the case of Autos in Bangalore....hope most of you understood why Auto people don't run in with their meters on....and demands huge amounts all the day and there are 'some' people who give them what they ask...Save KSRTC....Save Bangalore...god!!!!!!!!!!

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  20. Hi Smart

    I think your view on IT guys are very wrong or may be your exp may be talking like that, I am also from same sector and i used to travel to kerala using KSRTC only not after recession but before also, In my office most of my mallu friends used to travel by KSRTC only especially Malabar region . Reason for reserving Private buses is there agency availablity at madivala or any pocket roads in bangalore. And talking with some people i wondered they are still not aware about services availability of KSRTC or even online reservation system availablity. There should be a proper awareness and provide two more reservation counter inside bangalore , This will be very useful not only for IT guys but also for all those those who travel from bangalore :)

    Regards
    Amup

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  21. ya, i also dont think that IT people will ruin anything.. Its different perception and approaches of the people of the society not from a specific area of job> Auto people are acting terrible due lack of control over them by the authorities,
    take the situation in Mumbai, hyderbad auto people will never act smart.. Blore and chennai are places in which

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  22. smart joker ur comments are baseless

    Kerala is a place where u have pay extra for everything

    Right from labours to everyone and meters in auto something which is unknown in Kerala

    There is no IT BT CT in Kerala

    Dont blame others for ur failure in life

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  23. Guys... I went through all the post...Thanks Sujith for such a nice forum...In my opinio the worst travels i have ever seen is kallada...no matter what kind of bus they are...they never keep there time...People depend on them just because they have no other way...due to scarcity of buses.I will never travel in any private buses if there is enough KSRTC services...its all the private lobby who is playing from behind...no matter whether its with the bus or train they never allow things to happen....guys if you want to reach on time never depend on kallada travels...there sleeper buses have to burnt an year back...Private travels should be punctual to get more attention of passengers...nowadays people never mind paying more to those who are on TIME

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  24. Yes private lobby plays a role,But see why it is not happening in Karnataka transport,They have all kind of service from kochi.So it is the problem with Govt beggers (Govt Servants)and Govt.Officers are happy with the money,laddy and drinks they get from private lobby, and Govt dont want development in state, They want poor people and poverty to rule this state as they wish

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  25. Guys,
    I found some post in the beginning telling that TNSTC is far better than KSRTC. Just like KeSRTC, only the 3*2 seater buses of TNSTC are making profit and only those buses are maintained good. Many of it's luxury class buses are not at all maintained properly and many Ultra Delux buses from TNSTC are being transferred to SETC, as they are making huge losses and those buses are being replaced with normal 3*2 buses.

    Morover the shame for TNSTC and SETC is that they till now dont have a Volvo bus for long distance. KeSRTC has a Volvo bus, good as of that. They have only AC buses, built from Ashok Leyland engine.

    Here also, politicians operated private buses are there and people started preferring these High class luxury buses over TN Govt buses.They have Bed Bug trouble.

    KaSRTC is eating up the share and revenue of APSRTC, TNSTC, SETC, KeSRTC, MHSRTC. Its high time, other corporations, especially TN, start thinking of Luxury Services, due to over competition.

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