Introduce Fare Stage for Super Class Buses at Kazhakkuttam/Kaniyapuram
Currently there is no fare stage between Trivandrum and Attingal for Super Fast/Super Express. So passengers bound for Kazhakuttam have to pay the fare till Attingal. During night, FP buses are almost nil so people are forced to pay almost double of waht is really required.
Being at the midpoint of these two stations, Kazhakkuttam/Kaniyapuram deserve a fare stage.
Kazhakkutam is the IT hub of Trivandrum with hundreds of passengers utilising Super Class services.
Recently a fare stage was introduced at Venjaramoodu on the MC Road for Super fast buses. This would be its equivalent on the NH.Interestingly, the fare stages are very close by in Central Travancore. For example, between Kottayam and Muvattupuzha (45 km distance) There atr fare stages at Ettumanoor (12 km frm KTM), Kuravilangad (22 km), Koothattukulam (32 km).
Requested authorities should take care about this issue to provide identical fare stages at Kazhakkuttam and Kaniyapuram similar to what was done in Kuravilangadu recently, where two nearby stops were given identical fare stage status so that commuters from both sides can travel to the stage at the farthest end at the same cost.
Robin - robincjacob@gmail.com
Please dont do that. If its done like that then all the local travellers will occupy the seats of superfasts , which starts from trivandrum and long running passengers wont get any seats. Its not possible for each and every person to get seat reservation. If the fare stage is allowed then revenue of Superfasts will surely come down. Presently I have seen many people who are travelling in LSFP giving 12 and 10Rs for just 2-3 km. The present fare from TVM to Kazhakootam is Rs 22 (attingal fare stage). So if Fare stage at Kazhakootam is allowed then all SFP will become like FPs. Also there are many FP s in the gap of 10-15 mins from 7am to 7pm in TVM kazhakootam sector.
ReplyDeleteLalu reduced the general reservation compartments and introduced more tatkal compartments thus he made railway profitable. I think he got this idea from our own RTC.
ReplyDelete@Sankar: Superfast is even now only a glorified LSFP. There is not much time/comfort difference between a SFP and an FP. Second, during night, it is very difficult to find an FP. Earlier there used to be many FP services. Third, revenue generation is not to be done by fleecing gullible public. There should not be a different logic applied South Kerala than in central Kerala. Fourth, fare stages and fare calculation are not rationally done. For eg. Thiruvalla and Pala are both 28 km from Kottayam, but FP fares are Rs. 16/- and Rs 18/- respectively. Since no one is questioning such "revenue generation" is continuing.
ReplyDeleteTVM local people are very price conscious. If a choice is available they won't board SFPs for local travel. The unfortunate thing is that during night only SFPs are available and people are forced to pay an unjustifiable premium.
Earlier Super Class services commanded a premium because of comfort, punctuality and speed. My point is that it is no longer there. People still throng these services because of past associations. Earlier (in the 1990s when it was operated by TVM central) the 1730 TVM -TDPA SEXP used to reach Kottayam at 8.45 pm. Now the scheduled dep from KTM is 9:40 pm. But often it departs after 10 pm. Similarly the 2000 Pala SFP is held at Thampanoor till Mattupetty SFP departs at 2230. At KTM it reaches at 0130 and again held up till 0150. Why the classify such services as SFP and fleece "revenue"? Why can't we run FPs in such routes? I think KSRTC is taking advantage of its monopoly in the nationalised routes. Since KSRTC has themselves considered SFPs as cattle class, allowing an additional fare stage would not do any harm.
@Sujith - Please remove my email id from the post.