KSRTC begins weekend services for techies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid receiving brickbats from public over recent hike in ticket rates, KSRTC is enjoying a great support from Technopark employees. The KSRTC won the support of techies with its two recent initiatives. It has launched weekend services to places like Mundakkayam and Muvattupuzha. Direct bus services were unavailable from the campus to these places.
The Technopark-Thodupuzha-Moovattupuzha service began its first run with a grand reception by techies on Friday. The bus will have services from Technopark to Muvattupuzha at 5pm on Friday, which returns on Saturday morning. Another trip begins from Sunday evening, which returns from Muvattupuzha at 4.30pm on Monday.
Prathidhwani, a socio-cultural organization in Technopark, has filed a petition before KSRTC to allot buses to Thodupuzha-Muvattupuzha routes. Recently, Prathidhwani had run a successful campaign for bus service to Mundakkayam, which was realized a week ago.
The Technopark-Anchal-Punalur-Ranni-Mundakkayam service starts from Technopark at 5pm on Fridays and at 4pm from Mundakayam on Mondays.
Anoop Varghese, a member of Prathidhwani, said that the bus service was a major help to the techies from those areas. "Usually, they had to travel a day ahead because there was no direct service. This has become a great help as they can go on Fridays and return by office time on Mondays," he said.
District transport officer Sharath said that the Mudakayam bus service was crowded this weekend. "Hope the Muvattupuzha service will get more passengers in the coming days," he said.
"The techies have requested for services only in weekends. If they have demands during weekdays, we can consider that," he said.
He said that facilities such as online booking service will be introduced soon.