Mud-stuck buses make passengers mad

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Commuters had a harrowing time as 24 KSRTC buses got stuck in mud at the Karakkamury parking ground near the Ernakulam bus depot, resulting in cancellation of the trips on Thursday morning.

The corporation lost at least Rs 2 lakh following cancellations of super express/ superfast, fast passenger services at the peak morning hour.

“When the drivers reached the ground early morning, they couldn’t take out the buses parked in slush at the last rows as the tyres got immersed in mud.

This blocked other buses parked behind them,” T.P. Venu, KSRTC CITU district president, said.

Over one-acre at Karakkamury was provided to KSRTC by Kochi Metro Project Ltd as compensation for the 1.12-acre acquired for the Salim Raja flyover.

It’s a regular sight to see drivers slipping while taking buses out of the parking area. The latest incident was on Monday morning when the driver of Vattapara-Kovilkadavu bus got injured, P.J. Antony, a shunting driver, said.

All 48 conductors and drivers lost one day’s salary as the trips were cancelled. While the staff protested, the authorities maintained that the employees’ attendance will be marked only on beginning of the journey.

Resurfacing soon

With incidents of buses getting stuck in mud becoming frequent at the Karakkamury parking ground, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) on Thursday promised to commence the resurfacing and tarring works there within a week.

An official claimed that KMRL had filled the land with soil after it was handed over to KSRTC. “Then the KSRTC officials had expressed satisfaction and unlike their claims there was no agreement to resurfacing the initial contract.” the official said.

However, a KSRTC official said the clause was included and it was even agreed the ground would be made useable even before the start of the metro work in the land provided by the corporation.
ENDS