KOCHI: Though the circular trip buses have made it a norm to skip services from Vyttila Mobility Hub to the city, the authorities are still asleep at the wheel. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) had earlier promised that the department would take stringent action against violators by canceling the bus permits. However, it is yet to be implemented. This service is the only alternative left for the commuters to reach the city from the mobility hub. As per rules, the circular buses have to operate from 5.28 am to 10.59 pm. However, these buses are now operating only from 7 am to 12 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm.There are 42 buses plying from the hub to the city including two buses which have been granted under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNRUM) project. “The services rendered two buses under JNNRUM is not sufficient to cater to the needs of the commuters. We have pointed it out to the authorities several times but nothing happened,” said T N Pratapan, secretary, Bus Passengers Action Council, Thammanam. He said that the journey is strenuous on Sundays as only half of these buses are operating. “Hence, we need bus services which operates from 4 am till 12 am,” he said. When asked Circular Bus Owners’ Association representatives said that they are skipping the services. “We are evading services as they are not at all lucrative. Moreover, the surging number of illegally operating autorickshaws are also putting a lot of impediments on our way. The authorities should take measures in controlling the flux of illegally operating autorickshaws in the mobility hub,” said Suresh Umman, joint secretary, Circular Bus Owners’ Association, Ernakulam.However, T J Thomas, RTO, dismissed the argument of the Circular Bus Owners’ Association as flimsy. “There is no justification for their arguments. The department will take the necessary action against those skipping services,” he said. T J Thomas also added that this situation would soon be resolved as the KSRTC have started its night services.Earlier, ‘City Express’ had earlier reported that there still prevails confusion over the routing of KSRTC buses. Sixteen buses have been routed to North and other sixteen to South. But none of these buses touch the major centres of the city, especially Kaloor and Kacheripady. M Beena, MD, Vyttila Mobility Hub, also assured stringent actions against those skipping services soon.
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