Kozhikode: Youth taking up jobs in far-off cities often ship their bikes in trains or on inter-city private buses plying between Kerala and neighbouring states. Though long-distance Volvo buses of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) do transport two-wheelers in their night services, flagging demand has put the service in jeopardy. Meanwhile, the Karnataka transport authorities are yet to give nod to shipping by Scania buses which are being increasingly deployed for service.
Karnataka state buses have been transporting two-wheelers since long. Though private buses do not have permission to carry two-wheelers, they transport them illegally.
The KSRTC had decided to begin the service looking at the success of the “service” offered by the private buses. So far, two-wheelers are allowed only on the Volvo buses run by the public transporter.
Two-wheelers like low-weight, gearless scooters are charged Rs 3,000 on average. Other bikes are charged Rs 4,000 and heavy ones like Royal Enfield Bullet are charged Rs 5,000 by the KSRTC.
However, KSRTC authorities are sensing poor demand for the facility -- Fastbuz- on account of the current shipping charges. People opt for private buses that charge lower rates and ignore the service provided by the government transporter.
Fastbuz is the point-to-point courier service offered by the KSRTC. The two-wheelers are kept in the luggage area and carried along with other baggage. The service is available only on Volvo buses plying on Ernakulam-Bengaluru route. The service is not available on the Kozhikode-Bengaluru route because Scania buses have replaced Volvo vehicles on this stretch.
KSRTC employees believe that if Scania buses too get permission to transport two-wheelers, the service could become a success. KSRTC employees, the corporation and fan clubs of the transporter too have taken to social media to popularise the service.
