KSRTC rolls out dustbins in buses for a cleaner ride

Kozhikode: To keep buses clean and stop passengers from throwing waste on the  roads, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has started a project to place two dustbins in each buses. This effort, in partnership with the Kerala Suchitwa Mission, has already begun with ten AC superfast long-distance buses from Thiruvananthapuram. The entire project is set to be completed in three months.

Apart from keeping buses clean, KSRTC also expects to generate income from this initiative. Each day, around 800-1,000 used water bottles are expected to be collected from buses, depots, and bus stands in each district. Selling this plastic waste can add to KSRTC’s revenue. It may also improve KSRTC’s image among foreign tourists, who have often pointed out cleanliness issues in public transport.

State Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar has approved the project. A tender has been issued, and the process of buying the required equipment has started. KSRTC is also looking for sponsors to help with the project.

Plastic bottles thrown on the road have sometimes caused accidents, making this project important not just for cleanliness but also for safety. The project will also stop passengers from throwing peanut shells and orange peels inside buses.

KSRTC plans to set up more plastic water bottle collection points at bus stands by coordinating with local governing bodies and the Kerala Solid Waste Management project. Awareness campaigns using stickers and posters will remind passengers not to throw waste carelessly. In the second phase of the awareness, fines will be implemented for those who break the rules. This will be done with the Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam, which works towards a cleaner Kerala. KSRTC will also prevent the dumping of waste from buses to bus stands.

Income from plastic waste

• Weight of one empty water bottle: 20g
• Number of bottles needed for 1 kg of plastic: 50
• Price per kg of plastic: ₹18
• Revenue per bottle: ₹0.36 (36 paise)
• Estimated number of bottles collected daily: 14,000
• Expected daily revenue: ₹5,040

Solution for unhygienic condition

KSRTC has recently implemented a housekeeping system in buses and bus stands to improve cleanliness. Even with financial challenges, the corporation is working to provide a cleaner and more comfortable travel experience for passengers.

Housekeeping coordinator K. Sashikala said that bus stands will also be renovated to improve aesthetics.