(This is in reply to post appeared in TVM Life:- http://tvmlife.com/saving-volvo/)
In democratic country, govt levy tax and use it for the welfare of poor and infrastructure development.
So, why are we skeptical for volvo to run within city premises. Start medium-long distance services connecting cities. This will make profit. Then, they can start city services.
Onida ad dialogue-"Envy of neighbours". Make morning/evening shifts of volvo (towards TVM city) just for school students (St Marys, Pattom GHS, SMV, Manacaud, Poly etc). But they have concession, how do volvo benefit?
KSRTC is not just about volvo. They have other buses too.
Here comes the case of infrastructure utilization by bringing more volume (Virgin mobile setup). What matters is ppl ride in KSRTC.
Since regular buses have rush, ppl use self owned vehicles. No one to blame.
When school children move to volvo (Capacity of volvo is higher than regular bus), other city bus can be accessed by others.
Increasing more bus to volvo fleet invites more loss. Better business model is "Make people ask for more volvo. We too need to travel in AC buses". This will bring profit to KSTRC.
This is similar to Apple or Microsoft supporting college students. Once they graduate, they will be well versed in what they do in college and on job they will ask for Apple or Microsoft as the case may be.
Showing posts with label thiruvanathapuram. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thiruvanathapuram. Show all posts
Jan 26, 2010
Dec 7, 2009
Traffic lights in Thiruvanthapuram
It has been a nice move from the part of TVM traffic police to have traffic lights in place at the intersect of Nanathancode - Museum Road.
The KELTRON traffic lights are bright and visible . But it lacks timers. Pattom junction traffic lights have timers. It saves a lot of fuel rather idling the vehicle.
The traffic police too can sigh a relief, as they don't need to stand in dust, sun and rain without any gears.
It is high time to have a traffic light at intersection of Kazhakttom Bypass and NH 47.
KELTRON too can improve their traffic light technology from timers to solenoid. Timers are old fashioned. Disadvantage of which is, even if their is no traffic in the green lane, red lane people have to wait.
Solenoid technology changes signal as per the traffic volume. These solenoids are buried at the start of each lane and working backwards to 3-4 cell areas. This gives a nice picture of traffic volume.
The KELTRON traffic lights are bright and visible . But it lacks timers. Pattom junction traffic lights have timers. It saves a lot of fuel rather idling the vehicle.
The traffic police too can sigh a relief, as they don't need to stand in dust, sun and rain without any gears.
It is high time to have a traffic light at intersection of Kazhakttom Bypass and NH 47.
KELTRON too can improve their traffic light technology from timers to solenoid. Timers are old fashioned. Disadvantage of which is, even if their is no traffic in the green lane, red lane people have to wait.
Solenoid technology changes signal as per the traffic volume. These solenoids are buried at the start of each lane and working backwards to 3-4 cell areas. This gives a nice picture of traffic volume.
Why Kerala doesn't need a Volvo?
The title is inspired from the superman movie, where Lois Lane got Pulitzer prize for "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman?".
It is nice to see the introduction of new Volvo 8400 buses as inter-city bus transit system under JNNRUM scheme. The buses were flagged off on Nov 17.
Then the inevitable happened. Mishap of KSRTC volvo near East Fort. All regional news channels gave a good coverage for the incident. Later officials confirmed, two window panes are damaged and just need Rs 50k per pane. So 'they' may have to spend Rs 1 lakh or more to repair it.
Person who favours Volvo say, those are AC buses, low floor, no hassle with rickshaw wallahs, clean, moderately priced and many more. But is it true? A window pane is just enough to make big holes in the pocket of already sinking KSTRC. If KSTRC is proud to have Volvo in its fleet, will they replace all TATA and Leyland buses? They are just opposite of what adores Volvo.
You can see quarter empty Volvo buses plying from Kaniyapuram- Kovalam, where as other local buses carry people hanging in foot boards? Still those buses run in loss. So how come Volvo bus break-even the cost, with high maintenance cost?
You may also say, people using cars will shift to Volvo buses and thus reduces carbon emission and city traffic. What is the guarantee that a Volvo will turn up as per the schedule? If the bus is out of service, will KSTRC arrange another one to cover it up? Telematics is unheard off.
It is right time to ask, whether we need luxurious buses to ply less than 20 km or 2+ ordinary buses for the cost of one Volvo. Running cost per km for Volvo is atleast twice that of regular ones
What we need is just a basic transportation, where people can atleast travel without risking their lives. Almost all buses plying in morning and evening have school children hanging precariously on the bus. When you can operate regular buses at half the cost and half the investment, do we really need a volvo ac bus?
Last chapter of every deal closes with Corruption. Hope next government, won't dig anything out to screw the people behind the Volvo initiative. It is nice to recollect painting the green hi-tech buses back to red when government switched.:)
It is nice to see the introduction of new Volvo 8400 buses as inter-city bus transit system under JNNRUM scheme. The buses were flagged off on Nov 17.
Then the inevitable happened. Mishap of KSRTC volvo near East Fort. All regional news channels gave a good coverage for the incident. Later officials confirmed, two window panes are damaged and just need Rs 50k per pane. So 'they' may have to spend Rs 1 lakh or more to repair it.
Person who favours Volvo say, those are AC buses, low floor, no hassle with rickshaw wallahs, clean, moderately priced and many more. But is it true? A window pane is just enough to make big holes in the pocket of already sinking KSTRC. If KSTRC is proud to have Volvo in its fleet, will they replace all TATA and Leyland buses? They are just opposite of what adores Volvo.
You can see quarter empty Volvo buses plying from Kaniyapuram- Kovalam, where as other local buses carry people hanging in foot boards? Still those buses run in loss. So how come Volvo bus break-even the cost, with high maintenance cost?
You may also say, people using cars will shift to Volvo buses and thus reduces carbon emission and city traffic. What is the guarantee that a Volvo will turn up as per the schedule? If the bus is out of service, will KSTRC arrange another one to cover it up? Telematics is unheard off.
It is right time to ask, whether we need luxurious buses to ply less than 20 km or 2+ ordinary buses for the cost of one Volvo. Running cost per km for Volvo is atleast twice that of regular ones
What we need is just a basic transportation, where people can atleast travel without risking their lives. Almost all buses plying in morning and evening have school children hanging precariously on the bus. When you can operate regular buses at half the cost and half the investment, do we really need a volvo ac bus?
Last chapter of every deal closes with Corruption. Hope next government, won't dig anything out to screw the people behind the Volvo initiative. It is nice to recollect painting the green hi-tech buses back to red when government switched.:)
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