Passengers turn to private buses as KSRTC’s ageing, poorly maintained fleet worsens commute woes

The breakdown rate of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses has surged significantly.

It has become a growing crisis as bus breakdowns have more than doubled over the past five years. This consecutive incidents has left many buses stranded on roads, causing major inconvenience to passengers.

The situation is even worse for interstate services, where the breakdown rate has jumped by 60 percent compared to previous years.

Scania buses operating on the Thiruvananthapuram-Bengaluru route break down more frequently.  As a result, many regular passengers have switched to private buses for a convenient journey.

When the break down rate was discussed during a recent meeting with the minister, it was reported that top officials instructed not to disclose the actual figures.

In addition to outdated buses, even the new Swift deluxe buses, purchased just last year, are showing frequent faults. This has raised serious concerns about the quality of these vehicles, as the same problems keep recurring even after repairs, sometimes within just a week.

Many interstate buses in the KSRTC fleet are over 12 years old. The AC low-floor buses, bought in 2014, are also regularly breaking down. There have been complaints about shortage of spare parts, which prevents proper maintenance. This is affecting timely maintenance in depots. Without the necessary parts, buses are not properly serviced, further contributing to breakdowns.

Another issue is the continuous use of aging buses. Some buses, after completing long-distance trips in the early morning, are sent out for another service within just 30 minutes, leaving no time for maintenance. In some cases, buses reach Bengaluru in the morning and remain there until the evening, but this isn't enough to fix ongoing issues.

One of the major problems with Scania buses is the lack of a service center in Kerala. The officials claim that the responsibility for maintaining these buses falls on KSRTC. Usage of older buses that regularly breakdown even for high-profit routes, result in huge financial losses for the organisation.