KSRTC against 24-hour service from Mobility hub

KOCHI: There seems to be no end to the tug-of-war between the Mobility Hub society and the KSRTC in converting KSRTC services through the Vytilla Mobility Hub into a 24-hour affair.KSRTC officials have come out against the plan stating that the commuters to West Kochi, Ernakulam  Town Railway Station and Ernakulam Junction Railway Station will be heavily affected by the change.  “The commuters to Aroor, Edakochi and Thoppumpady areas will also find it difficult if all the long distance KSRTC buses are made to operate through the Mobility Hub after 8 pm,” said P L Jose, Ernakulam Zonal Officer for KSRTC.Currently, only long distance buses operate through the hub between 8 a.m and 8 p.m. After 8 p.m, KSRTC’s night services to Kottayam only ply through the hub.   Although the KSRTC agrees that starting circular services at night will solve the issue to an extent, the officals say that the loss incurred in the process will be high. “If we (KSRTC) have to start operating regular circular services at night,  we need to have enough passengers. “Without that is not possible. Otherwise we will be at a loss,” said a highly placed KSRTC official.  Another issue raised by them is the lack of buses to nearby areas like Aluva, Perumbavoor and Kothamangalam from the Mobility Hub.