KSRTC fast-tracks procedures to turn Angamaly depot into transit hub

Angamaly: Soon, Angamaly in central Kerala could become a major hub of all long-distance services of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). The authorities have fast-tracked all procedures to make it happen. The major plan is being executed by the KSRTC as part of its move to implement the single-duty system for long-distance services.

The allotment of the bus schedules to other depots has been completed. Redeployment of the workers too is nearing completion.

Drivers and conductors who wish to continue in the Angamaly depot unit can do so. However, a circular has been issued stating that such employees should be willing to operate any long-distance service starting from the unit.

The workload of the bus crew will be lessened as the new plan comes into effect, KSRTC CMD Biju Prabahakar had said. The long-distance bus services from Thiruvanathapuram will then terminate in Angamaly, he added.

Will local KSRTC services be affected?

At present, 27 local services are being operated from the Angamaly KSRTC depot. These include services to Chalakudy, Aluva, Ayyampuzha, Devgiri, Olive Mount, Plantation, Mala, Eloor, Amrutha, Thoppumpady, Ernakulam jetty, Manjapra, Anappara, Mulankuzhy, and Vallamkadavu ferry.

Passengers who regularly patronise these services fear they could be curtailed when the depot is turned into a transit hub.

Moves are afoot to shift these local services to the KSRTC depots at Chalakudy and Aluva. There will be no local services starting from Angamaly. Five of the fast passenger services would be operated from the Chalakudy depot, while two of them will begin service from the Aluva depot.

The operation of two services to Thiruvananthapuram will be shifted to the depots in Irinjalakuda and Thrissur. Angamaly, which is 30 km north of Kochi city, lies at the intersection of the Main Central Road and National Highway 544.

However, the KSRTC authorities had assured people’s representatives and passengers that local services would be operated from the Angamaly depot on the same time schedule as the existing one.