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The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Fitness certificates issued to nearly 200 school buses in Kozhikode city
The Motor Vehicles department (MVD) has completed the fitness check of 190 school buses in Kozhikode city limits ahead of the reopening of schools. Fitness certificates were rejected for around 20 vehicles which were not found fitted with Geographical Positioning System (GPS) under the fresh safety guidelines. MVD officials said the certificates were granted only after inspecting several factors including the condition of seating, tyres, speed governors, and emergency exits. Re-inspection of the buses that were not given fitness certificates would be held on Saturday, they added. The fitness check was launched in Kozhikode district after offering a one-day mandatory training session for all educational institution vehicle drivers. Instructions had already been issued to school managements about the training session and the decision to keep untrained drivers away from the job in the new academic year. MVD officials said the directive to fix surveillance cameras in school buses would be implemented from September. School managements would be given time till the last week of August to make the necessary arrangements as per the order issued by Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar. Appointment of door attenders, emergency firefighting equipment and a register carrying the details of all travellers would be made mandatory from the new academic year. All schools would be responsible for appointing a teacher separately to take care of the school bus services and the related safety issues. Police sources said inspections to track speed limit violations and footboard journeys, and violation of the permitted seating capacity would be intensified to enforce safety norms. Combined flash inspections with the support of MVD squads would be carried out in all parts of the district, they added.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
PPP project under consideration to develop KSRTC's Thamarassery depot
A public private partnership (PPP) project is under consideration for the development of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation's (KSRTC) Thamarassery depot in Kozhikode district as part of improving the rural and inter-district services. Preparation of the masterplan will begin soon, which will also address the immediate renovation requirements. Action comes in the wake of a discussion initiated recently by M.K. Muneer, MLA, and local administrators with Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar. A team of experts comprising architects, people's representatives, and officials representing the Public Works department has already visited the proposed spot to understand the requirements and plans suitable for speedy execution. To improve revenue KSRTC officials said the depot, located in a one-acre spread compound, can be developed with superior facilities for the passengers and the bus crew to improve the corporation's revenue from the rural area. They also said that the depot is now managing over 30 successful services with limited staff amid all development crises, including very old buildings and pending renovation works. Thamarassery grama panchayat authorities said that the Thamarassery depot stands second in generating better income from rural bus services in the district. According to them, there were initially over 40 services which were cut short citing shortage of conductors and drivers. The depot is now functioning in a 45-year old building, they added. 'Our proposal is to approve a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) project in PPP model, which can be implemented within a year if the State government and the KSRTC are extending full cooperation. A two-storey building with underground workshop for maintenance works is what we seek with the finalisation of the masterplan,' said Thamarassery grama panchayat president A. Aravindan. He also hopes that corporate social responsibility funds from some organisations will further support the project. Services reinstated Following the local administrators' request, some of the previously suspended long distance services to Thiruvananthapuram and Guruvayur had been reinstated at the depot. The KSRTC officials said the shortage of about 25 drivers also should be addressed to resume some of the previously stopped rural services at the earliest.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Comprehensive insurance scheme for KSRTC employees
Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar on Monday announced a comprehensive insurance scheme for 22,095 permanent employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). The insurance scheme which offers coverage of up to ₹1 crore will come into effect from June 4, and is being implemented in collaboration with the State Bank of India (SBI). Highlights of the scheme include Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) of ₹1 crore, Air Accident Insurance (AAI) of ₹1 crore and permanent total disability (PTD) coverage of up to ₹1 crore, Mr. Ganesh Kumar said at a press conference here. For permanent partial disability, the coverage offered is up to ₹80 lakh. A big attraction of the scheme is that the employees need not pay premium for this account-level insurance scheme. Aid for kin The family of an employee with salary above ₹25,000 will be eligible for ₹6 lakh as assistance on his/her death. Add-on benefits for PAI claim admission include assistance for the marriage of daughters, plastic surgery/burns cases, assistance for the education of children, and ambulance expenses. The insurance scheme was implemented as part of transferring all KSRTC accounts to the SBI, the Minister said. Computerisation Mr. Ganesh Kumar said that the KSRTC will be fully computerised after May 22. This will allow passengers to buy tickets using UPI and card transactions on all KSRTC buses. KSRTC will also introduce smart cards for the students' concession scheme, the Minister said. Mr. Ganesh Kumar said that adequate spare parts will be stocked in all depots within a month. At present, only 487 buses are under repairs in garages, he said.
