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The Hindu
The Hindu
National
Special Correspondent

KSRTC to add 100 new buses to its fleet

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) expects to add 100 new buses in the sleeper, semi-sleeper, and air suspension non-AC categories to its fleet by February next year.

The corporation is spending ₹44.64 crore from the ₹50 crore sanctioned last year for a modernisation programme. The first batch of buses will be added to the fleet on November 1, Keralapiravi Day.

The new acquisitions will consist of eight sleepers from Volvo purchased at a cost of ₹11.08 crore (₹1.38 crore per bus), 20 semi-sleepers from Ashok Leyland at a cost of ₹9.42 crore (₹47.12 lakh per bus), and 72 air suspension non-AC buses also from Ashok Leyland at ₹24.32 crore (₹33.78 lakh per bus).

Facilities aboard

The new buses will help attract more long-distance passengers to the KSRTC, the corporation said. The buses, which promise a high level of comfort, will also be equipped with extra luggage space, mobile charging points, and Wi-Fi.

The acquisition is expected to inject fresh life into the cash-strapped corporation’s ageing fleet, especially the sleepers, the lack of which was viewed as a shortcoming. Tamil Nadu has 140 buses, and Karnataka, 82, in the sleeper category.

The buses in the fleet currently used by the KSRTC for long-distance services are between five and seven years old.

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