Thiruvananthapuram: The KSRTC SWIFT buses will become a threat to the private buses running on inter-state routes. SWIFT which has no state transport status would be able to run contract carriage buses like private owners. There is no need to enter into contract with other states for this purposes.

If there are contract carriage buses which pay tax in both states, services can be conducted providing online tickets. If government intervenes and provides concession in tax, the services can be given at low cost to attract passengers.

KSRTC can conduct inter-state services after entering into contract with other states. For example, if KSRTC bus wants to enter 1400 km in Tamil Nadu, the same distance should be allowed for Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus in Kerala. This is a loss-bound contract for KSRTC. Out of the Thiruvananthapuram – Nagercoil-Chennai route (769km) which has a large number of passengers, only 41km is in Kerala. So if a KSRTC bus conducts service on this route, TNSTC bus will be able to cover over 700km in Kerala in return. As per the contract the bus fare is calculated as per the rate existing in those states.

When the high bus fare in Kerala becomes a boon to TNSTC, the lower rate in Tamil Nadu pushes KSRTC to loss. This drawback can be overcome with SWIFT contract carriage buses.

Also, dropping the duty system of KSRTC in which 5 to 6 employees are deployed in one trip, is also beneficial.

One-week duty, one months’ attendance

If a person works continuously for one week, he/she will be allotted one months’ attendance. For the remaining days, they can do other jobs. When long-distance SWIFT services come into force, the duty system in KSRTC that many employees depend on for the same salary would be lost. The issues relating to attendance would diminish and so does trip cancellations because of the absence of employees. Crew change and driver-cum-conductor system also can be avoided.