Crisis-ridden bus operators plan CNG transition of city fleet
The Hindu
Only 200 of 1,000 private buses operating in Greater Kochi area
Faced with virtually no income from the buses they own, the steep fall in patronage and mounting operational expenses due to the skyrocketing fuel price, bus operators in Kochi have envisaged a smart buses consortium which will shortly be christened and registered. The aim is to convert their existing fleet of buses as “smart buses” that operate on CNG and other fuel sources that cause little air and sound pollution, have CCTV, GPS, smart ticketing and also have public information system (PIS), it is learnt. This comes in the wake of only around 200 of the 1,000 city and mofussil service buses regularly operating in the Greater Kochi area, despite relaxation in the pandemic norms. Most of the other buses have not operated for over a year, with their owners submitting the G-form to MVD, making it clear that the buses will not operate, in order to get exemption from vehicle tax which alone accounts for up to ₹1.20 lakh per year.More Related News