Representative Image: Mathrubhumi
Kollam: In a major relief for Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the Superclass buses nearing an end to their service period will receive an extension by one more year.
The permissible tenure of superclass buses, including Fast Passenger, Super Fast, Super Express, Super Deluxe and Premium AC buses, are nine years. Earlier, the tenure was fixed as five years and extended twice until it reached nine years. With the latest order, these buses can operates services for up to 10 years.
According to the rules, no superclass bus should be granted a permit if it has completed five years of service. However, this was relaxed during the tenure of former KSRTC MD Tomin Thachankary. At that time, this rule was relaxed and the service period of the buses was increased to seven years for KSRTC.
Later, service period of seven years was increased to nine years after many buses reached the service limit. The decision was taken in the backdrop of KSRTC not purchasing any new buses to replace the existing ones. Meanwhile, KSRTC will purchases 400 buses for Swift services.
Currently, the service period of 159 Superclass buses will end in November. Further, 413 buses will reach the end of their service period in the next four months.
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