Kollam: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced plans to sell its own branded drinking water, ‘KL-15’, on buses. Each bottle will be priced at ₹13. The water will be supplied under ‘Hilli Aqua’, the official bottled water brand of the Kerala government.

Under the scheme, conductors will receive a commission of ₹2 per bottle sold, while drivers will earn ₹1. However, the move has drawn strong criticism from trade unions and staff. To ease opposition, the initial rollout is expected to begin on Swift buses, with sales handled by contract employees.

How is this going to operate?

KSRTC management has directed staff to maintain a separate register for bottled water sales within the ticketing and cash system. This will include detailed records of stock received, bottles distributed, and remaining inventory. The number of bottles issued to conductors will also be recorded in the ETM waybill.

There are also plans to provide a bottle of water to passengers who book tickets online, with the cost included in the ticket price. With around 200,000 online bookings daily, the corporation estimates potential earnings of up to ₹800,000 per day from this initiative. Bottled water will additionally be offered to budget tourism passengers and sold at reservation, coupon, and enquiry counters.

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Initially, staff were instructed to deposit the full ₹13 per bottle at the cash counter, with commissions paid later through salaries. Following objections, the policy has been revised: employees will now retain their commission upfront and deposit only the remaining amount.

Conductors to carry water bottles?

Despite these adjustments, concerns persist among conductors. Many argue that carrying and selling water bottles on crowded buses—particularly for women staff—will be challenging. Some have also questioned the legality of assigning sales duties to conductors recruited through Public Service Commission (PSC) examinations.

Trade unions affiliated with INTUC and BMS have submitted complaints to the KSRTC Chairman and Managing Director, stating that selling bottled water on overcrowded buses, where many passengers are standing, is impractical.