KMT reopens loss-making bus routes

Kolhapur: The Kolhapur Municipal Transport (KMT) has restored the buses it had cancelled a few months ago along loss-making routes. Following the move, agitated city activists met civic transport officials to seek the reason for the restoration. They claimed that out of 26 routes, buses plying along at least 11 routes are making losses to the tune of Rs 2 crore per annum. Their income-per-kilometre is much less than the average. Further, the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC), which earns revenue from citizens through taxes, is funding KMT to bridge these losses, said the irate citizens. Dilip Desai, an activist associated with the Prajasattak Samajik Seva Sanstha, said, “Upon our insistence buses along a few loss-making routes were cancelled in the first place. However, they have now been restored. We were told that since the KMT in-charge is new, it will take some time to re-assess the situation. We are willing to wait for a month. Thereafter, if KMT does not cancel buses again, we will protest.” In the meeting, officials said some villagers had met top KMT officials requesting the restoration of thee bus routes. “Buses along longer routes to villages have been plying since the inception of KMT. Back then, there were less travel options available and KMT was reaping profits from these routes. Now, most buses along long routes run empty,” a senior KMT official said, requesting anonymity. Activists also claimed that since residents of fringe villages resist merging with KMC, services like transport and water supply to them should be stopped as it adds to the burden on the KMC exchequer, instead of allowing it to make profits.
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