Thiruvananthapuram: KSRTC’s plan to purchase new buses with government aid has hit a roadblock. Although tenders were invited for the procurement of 370 diesel buses, the process was stalled due to non-allocation of funds. The government had initially promised Rs 92 crore for purchasing new buses, but this amount was later reduced to Rs 46 crore owing to the financial crisis. Even this amount has not yet been released.  

Out of the 4,500 buses currently in operation, 90 percent are over ten years old. With 500 buses being reassigned for the special Sabarimala service, buses had to be withdrawn from other routes.  

The financial crisis has also affected the timely disbursement of the monthly aid of Rs 50 crore required for salary payments. The failure to procure new buses over the past eight years has worsened the situation. While 5,488 new buses were added to the fleet between 2006 and 2016, only 534 buses have been purchased in the last eight years.