First it was the “diversion” of over 20 Thiru-Kochi buses to the Thiruvananthapuram depot months ago, that had created a row. Now, two brand new low-floor AC buses, which have even been allotted route permits, are being taken back to the state capital.
“We’ve been directed from the central office to surrender the permits and sent the buses back. The buses were intended to run in the Fort Kochi- Airport and the Mattancherry-Perumbavoor routes”, said Ernakulam ATO C. Venugopal.
The Ernakulam depot was planning to deploy one of the buses in the airport sector as part of its plans to run services between the city and the airport every half-an-hour.
When contacted, the central officials said there was a plan to deploy the AC low-floor buses in long routes like the Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram sector. “For that we’re trying to get a special permit as currently, there is no provision for JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) buses to operate outside main cities”, said an official in charge of the buses in the state.
Sources said the move had the backing of a minister but the exemption was unlikely for the buses purchased with funds under the central scheme. Also, these buses were not as comfortable as inter-state volvo buses. “It’s unlikely that the buses would be returned and Kochi would have to be satisfied with the existing 42 low-floor AC buses,” they said