With love from Jose ettan: A historic first as Kerala citizen gifts ₹40L to buy KSRTC bus

Thiruvananthapuram: In a historic first for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), a private individual has stepped forward to purchase and donate a passenger bus for public service. Jose, a native of Mukkannoor in Angamaly, handed over a cheque worth ₹40 lakh for the vehicle.

The cheque was handed over to Chief Minister V D Satheesan in a simple ceremony conducted in his chamber following the Cabinet meeting. Receiving the contribution, the Chief Minister handed the cheque to Transport Minister C P John, expressing hope that the gesture would serve as an encouraging precedent for more individuals and private organisations to support the state transport operator. Higher Education Minister Roji M John commended Jose's action as exemplary.

Jose, who runs Heeman Auto Robo Park, a company situated within Minister Roji M John’s constituency, decided to donate the vehicle after hearing the Chief Minister’s public appeal encouraging citizens to support KSRTC.

He initially approached Minister Roji M John with the proposal. When Roji M John met Transport Minister C P John on Tuesday, he relayed the offer, leading to an invitation for Jose to personally hand over the funds.

Jose placed only one condition on his donation – the vehicle must operate from the Angamaly depot. He also requested that the Transport Department formulate a route connecting the popular tourist destination of Athirappilly with southern Kerala, a proposal backed by Minister Roji M John. Transport Minister C P John assured them that the bus would be assigned to the requested route.

Minister C P John noted that while the Calicut City Co-operative Bank had previously donated a bus to KSRTC, Jose's contribution represents the first time an individual citizen has funded a vehicle independently. He expressed optimism that other benefactors would follow suit.

Following the ceremony, the Chief Minister handed the cheque to KSRTC Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Dr P S Pramoj Shankar.

KSRTC is inviting bus sponsorships as part of the state government’s 100-Day Action Plan to enhance public transport infrastructure. The Transport Minister added that local self-government bodies, co-operatives, corporate entities, trusts, voluntary organisations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds are all eligible to sponsor vehicles for the fleet.