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Low-floor AC buses launched

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Turning a new leaf in the urban transport system of the state, the Chief Minister, V. S. Achuthanandan on Tuesday flagged off eight low-floor air-conditioned buses purchased with financial assistance from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

After the flagging-off ceremony organised at the Central Stadium here, the Chief Minister, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs Sashi Tharoor, Ministers, legislators and top officials of the KSRTC boarded the orange-red Volvo bus for a ride. As the bus was overcrowded, the Chief Minster and others alighted at the gate.

Hundreds had gathered in the stadium to see the modern buses and experience the unique features. Officials of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) that is operating the buses were gracious to take the public for a free ride through the capital.

Each of the low-floor air-conditioned sleek and ergonomically buses procured at a cost of Rs. 80 lakhs has several unique features and has changed the prevailing concept of buses among the public.

LCD destination boards in Malayalam and English with the route number, route and destination will come in handy for the locals and tourists. Low platform for hassle-free boarding and alighting, rear engine, automatic gear, electronically adjustable floor depending on condition of the road, comfortable seating, facility for lowering on the left side (kneeling), ramp for the physically challenged to enter the bus and facility for fixing wheel chair are some of the features.

Facilities for charging the mobile phone and laptop, computer-aided onboard diagnostic system for driver to know the fault of the engine, electronically adjustable rear view mirror, public address system for the driver to communicate with commuters, GPS enabled facility to announce and display the destination are included.