The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is gearing up to turn unused buses into mobile food stalls. These buses will be parked near KSRTC bus stands.
The corporation is planning to rent the food buses to those who offer the highest payment. Priority will be given to Women Development Corporation, Kudumbashree, Indian Coffee House etc.
KSRTC has over 500 old buses which could be turned into food stalls. Mechanics have been employed to make the alterations and these buses will hit the road once the coronavirus pandemic subsides.
Usually, KSRTC sells these buses for scrap. Each bus will be worth Rs 75,000 at the most. But if the KSRTC can turn these buses into trailers, parts including the engines, radiators and axles can be removed and used in other buses.
It is assumed that the venture will be profitable even if a driver is appointed to deploy the food buses. Most of the KSRTC bus stations have enough space. Mobile food buses could be parked without troubling the traffic at the bus stations.
In Thampanoor, some people are against the construction of a compound wall on one side of the central depot. The area has been blocked by parking old buses. These buses will be turned into shops and rented out.
Each bus can be used for 20 years but in KSRTC they will not last more than 13 years. The corporation’s attempt to sell 10-year-old buses for scrap had triggered a controversy. The auction was cancelled after Mathrubhumi brought the matter to light.
10-years-old buses are now being used for ordinary services.
