Launch of new free services-Another major step by KSRTC towards providing value added services to commuters
Meeting the expectations of public, State Government has been implementing many people-friendly and developmental projects. On the same lines, State Transport Corporations have been given suitable instructions to extend better facilities for the benefit of public. KSRTC has already entered into LIMCA BOOK OF RECORDS as the only State Transport Undertaking to bag highest number of awards and is providing quality services. Chief Minister of Karnataka has announced many programmes beneficial to general public in the State Budget.
Similarly, Transport Minister is also taking up great interest in implementing each of the commuter friendly initiatives by offering suitable advises to State Transport Corporations. As a result, he has ordered to resume provision of drinking water bottles in premium buses with effect from today itself, which was stopped earlier for last four months due to some unavoidable reasons.
Further, KSRTC’s Chairman has been personally visiting all the divisions and bus stations; listening to problems of workforce and commuters; and based on which providing many suggestions in implementation besides extending valuable guidance and co-operation.
Today, as a major step towards providing value added services to commuters, KSRTC is launching drinking water bottle system, news papers and fast tag system. All these services are being provided free of cost to commuters and as such commuters need not incur any expenditure. Details of all these services are provided in the report below.
KSRTC will introduce shortly RO water plant in all its major bus stations for the commuters of all classes at a cost of Rs.1 per one liter.
MD KSRTC Expressed none neighbouring states coming forward to enter interstate transport reciprocal agreement to operate buses, they are worried if KSRTC operates buses in their states their people will shift to KSRTC not their respective state buses. It show the level of KSRTC service , to enhance this still further, KSRTC introducing these value added services to its commuters.
K. Gopala Pujari, Chairman, KSRTC; S.R.Umashankar, Managing Director, KSRTC; Prakash MD MSIL, Rahul Arora, General Manager, Result & Market Development, Times Group and Board Directors of KSRTC and MSIL were present on this occasion.
Packaged water bottles to premium service passengers
To provide better facility to passengers, KSRTC has reintroduced the supply of 500 ml packaged drinking water to the esteemed passengers in its premium services viz Airavat Club class, Airavat Diamond Class, Airavat, AC sleeper, Flybus. KSRTC is now procuring water bottles from MSIL (Govt. of Karnataka undertaking) at competitive prices.
Packaged water bottles will be provided daily to 29000 passengers in 626 premium services daily and envisages procurement of 1.00 crore water bottles a year at Rs.4.30 per bottle compared to earlier cost of Rs.5.43 per bottle.
Complementary newspaper to premium service passengers in the morning hours
To facilitate passengers travelling in early morning premium services, KSRTC has tied up with “The Times Group” to provide complementary newspapers. Initially newspapers will be provided to passengers of services departing between 0500 to 1100 hours from Kempegowda Bus Station, Mysore Road Bus Station, Shantinagar Bus Station, Kempegowda International Airport and Mysore Bus stations.
This facility will cover 104 premium services and benefit 4000 passengers daily.
FASTag – Electronic Toll Payments
KSRTC has selected IDFC Bank, as single agency for providing FASTag (Electronic Toll Payment) facility to KSRTC buses. Salient features of this facility are;
FASTag is a RFID device for making electronic toll payments, implemented across all toll Plazas on National Highways for speedy movement of vehicles.
FASTag devices will be installed free of cost for all KSRTC buses (8400 buses).
KSRTC buses will operate on exclusive FASTag lane at toll plazas avoiding waiting time and cash payments. This will reduce travel time for passengers and improve fuel performance.
KSRTC will also get a discount of 7.5% from the National Highways for adopting FASTag system and this will result in savings of Rs.4.50 crores per annum.
Payment towards toll fee will be made electronically by KSRTC to IDFC bank on daily basis. Payments are estimated at Rs.5.00 crores per month,
The agency will provide MIS data related to KSRTC bus operations and MIS modules for payment reconciliation and verification. Separate module accessible to KSRTC users will be provided and KSRTC officials will be trained in this regard.
The agency will establish exclusive call center for providing assistance to KSRTC buses.
This facility will be initiated by May-end and will be completed in two months.