Thiruvananthapuram: A massive financial irregularity worth crores has surfaced in the purchase of buses by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). Records obtained by Mathrubhumi News reveal that KSRTC bought the same model of buses on the same day at different prices, raising serious corruption allegations. Despite the apparent discrepancies, no audit or investigation has been conducted so far.

The inconsistencies were found in the purchase of 181 buses from Tata. On November 21, 2025, KSRTC purchased eight buses at ₹29,82,015 each. On the very same day, it bought five buses of the identical model at a lower price of ₹27,74,593 each. The higher-priced purchase alone allegedly resulted in an excess expenditure of around ₹16 lakh.

The model was the same, the dealer was the same — only the prices differed. Similar discrepancies appear repeatedly in the records. The alleged irregularities continued through November and December 2025. While eight buses were purchased at lower prices, 16 buses were reportedly bought by paying an additional ₹2–3 lakh per vehicle.

On December 13, 2025 buses of the same model were purchased at prices ranging from ₹27 lakh to ₹30 lakh. Purchase records up to February 2026 show repeated instances of such price variations. Allegations of corruption in KSRTC's bus procurement process have surfaced in the past as well, but no formal investigation has been carried out.

The records show:

  • 14 buses purchased at ₹27,74,593 each

  • 30 buses purchased at ₹27,96,718 each

  • 54 buses purchased at ₹29,82,015 each

  • 83 buses purchased at ₹30,05,799 each

Across all 181 buses, the alleged excess expenditure is estimated to exceed ₹4 crore.

The online listed price of this bus model is around ₹29 lakh. Large-volume buyers such as KSRTC would normally be expected to receive discounts. However, no such benefit is seen in these purchases. As a result, there are growing demands for a detailed investigation into the procurement process.