KOCHI: As part of the mobility hub authorities’ decision to stop the entry of all long-distance private buses and KSRTC buses into the city, the KSRTC and private bus unions have come out in protest against the inconveniences and losses caused to them.KSRTC bus inspector S Udayappan at the Vyttila Mobility Hub said: “Since our superfast buses are not entering the Ernakulam bus stand anymore, our daily collection has gone down immensely low. Some days we are forced to travel with a few seats empty.”According to KSRTC union members, the problem has arisen because people are still not aware that all the superfast buses are not available anymore in the Ernakulam bus stand. It is only when they reach the bus stand that they realise that there are no superfast buses. In order to save the trouble of coming to the mobility hub, these passengers opt for the fast passenger buses which is a major time-consuming affair for them. In the long run the KSRTC will suffer more losses if proper action is not taken.”The unions state that the decision to stop the entry of buses to the city has proven to be a foolhardy one. “People are stranded on road sides without bus services. The best decision is to ply the buses through both the mobility hub and the other bus stands. But the Mobility Hub officials said that the decision was taken to decrease the heavy traffic in the city. “Proper steps are being taken one by one. The only thing that is presently standing in the way is the protest by these unions.”Meanwhile, there are strong protests from private buses plying from the high range areas. Kerala Bus Transport Association secretary Suresh Oommen said: “The high range private bus owners are coming out in strong protest raising the demand to ply their buses through Kaloor.Shibu S, a private bus conductor from Poopara, Idukki, said: “We take only one trip to and from Kochi every day. If we are denied access through the major regions of the city, then what profits are we supposed to make? We are facing losses to the tune of `1,500 every day.”
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