No spare parts to get buses fit for Sabari season

KOTTAYAM: The lack of availability of spare parts and tyres are resulting in damaged KSRTC buses gathering dust at Kottayam depot even as the Sabarimala pilgrimage season draws near. Currently, fourteen buses are lying unused at the KSRTC depot at Kodimatha due to lack of spare parts and tyres to carry out maintenance works, this at a time when intensive preparations should be taking place to tackle the rush during the forthcoming pilgrimage season.

The District Transport Officer (DTO) of Kottayam, Jacob Mathew admitted that despite the buses being piled up at the depot they haven't so far received any spare parts items. KSRTC union leaders say that in the previous years, the KSRTC used to introduce new buses for service in view of the Sabarimala season so as to provide facilities for the passengers by the middle of October. A few among those buses, which are presently lying at the workshops for need of maintenance, will be used for the conducting of special services.

"In case we are roping in the services of new buses from other depots, the plan is to give away the services of the buses after rectifying the maintenance works", said K.C. Thomas, the INTUC leader from the Kottayam depot. In previous years, mostly by the middle of October most of the buses put aside for the maintenance works were made functional. But this year, the depot hasn't even received the spare parts for conducting the maintenance works, Mr Thomas added.