Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 16 Keralam is considering the feasibility of installing seat belts for passengers travelling on long-distance KSRTC buses to reduce the risk of injuries during sudden braking.
Replying to a question by Abin Varkey (Congress) during the Question Hour in the state Assembly on Friday, Transport Minister C P John said concerns had been raised that passengers seated in pushback seats could hit the seats in front of them when buses travelling at high speeds applied sudden brakes.
A detailed study would be conducted to examine the feasibility of providing seat belts in such buses, he said.
Responding to a question by Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, John said the government’s move to involve local self-government institutions in maintaining Kerala State Road Transport Corporation depots was being misinterpreted.
The government was not insisting on such an arrangement but would not discourage corporations and municipalities with healthy revenues from voluntarily coming forward to maintain the depots, he said.
Local bodies were already undertaking certain maintenance activities, including the upkeep of toilets at KSRTC depots, the minister added.
John clarified that not a single ordinary KSRTC bus had been converted into a city fast service. Instead, some city fast services had been converted into ordinary services to operate under the Priyadarshini scheme, which provides free travel for women, he said.
It was unfortunate that a scheme beneficial to the public was being misinterpreted, he said, adding that the government was seeking to increase the number of buses operating under the Priyadarshini scheme.
The scheme was not facing any financial crisis, as the government had made budgetary provisions for it and was providing funds to KSRTC, John said.
More than Rs 200 crore had already been provided to the corporation in connection with the scheme, he informed the Assembly.
(PTI News)
