The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has launched a new onboard food delivery service in partnership with popular fast-food chain Chicking, aiming to make long-distance travel more convenient for passengers. The service begins today on a pilot basis across five KSRTC buses operating from Technopark.

How the service works for passengers

Passengers travelling on the selected services can order Chicking food during the journey by scanning a QR code displayed inside the bus. The ordered meal, mainly fried chicken items, will be delivered at the next bus stop.

To encourage usage, passengers will receive a 25 per cent discount on all orders. As part of the revenue model, five per cent of the income from sales will go to KSRTC. Chicking will also reportedly provide free meals to KSRTC crew members. A dedicated website for the service is expected to be launched soon. 

Five buses flagged off 

The service has been implemented on five KSRTC superclass services and budget tourism trips. These buses will be officially flagged off on Friday, January 23, at 5.15 pm.

The flag-off ceremony was be held in the presence of MLA Kadakampally Surendran and KSRTC CMD Dr P S Pramoj Shankar.

Discussions with tech community led to rollout

The allocation of the five services follows discussions held earlier this week between Kerala IT forum Prathidhwani and the KSRTC CMD at Technopark. The move reflects concerns and suggestions raised by tech employees and regular commuters using long-distance KSRTC services.

Part of wider passenger-friendly measures

The food delivery initiative is part of a broader effort by KSRTC to improve onboard facilities. Recently, the corporation decided to supply bottled drinking water to passengers at Re 1 below market price. Bottle kiosks will be placed near the driver’s cabin, allowing passengers to collect water easily. For each bottle sold, the driver will earn Re 1 and the conductor Rs 2.

Earlier, KSRTC had also issued a tender inviting interested parties to set up food stalls at bus stations to supply pre-ordered meals to passengers.