Thiruvananthapuram: Good news for cyclists, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will allow cycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters to be transported in the cargo of long-distance low-floor services.

State Minister for Transport, Antony Raju, said on Monday that the government has decided to allow the facilities in long-distance buses and Volvo/Scania services to Bengaluru beginning November 1.

"A specific charge will be applicable. The facilities have been enabled based on requests from passengers. The message here is that while the whole world is promoting cycling, Kerala is also ready to go along," said the minister.

Meanwhile, the government has also decided to reduce bus fares from October 1.

With bus services expected to be reinstated to pre-COVID times soon, the minimum fare will be dropped to Rs 8.

However, the state government said that it will also consider the requests made by private bus owners to hike the fares.

Last year, Justice M Ramachandran Commission had reported in favour of a fare hike by recommending the minimum fare to be raised from Rs 8 to Rs 10.

JNNURM low-floor rates reduced
The JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) non-AC bus fare has been reduced and made equivalent to that of ordinary services, said minister Antony Raju.

As for JNNURM AC buses and other AC services plying within and outside the state, the existing fare reduction in the wake of fewer number of passengers will continue.

At present, JNNURM non-AC low-floor buses are used instead of ordinary services.

Fare discount to be lifted
The minister noted that as normal services are set to resume with the lifting of restrictions in the wake of COVID-19, a 25% fare reduction that was given to super-fast and higher categories (Super Deluxe and Super Express) will be discontinued.

The discount was offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. "Hereafter, these services will charge the standard rates," the minister said.