The state government has granted a two-year extension to 1,200 KSRTC buses that were nearing the end of their 15-year service life. This decision was made following the lack of response to a request from Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, who had appealed to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, for permission to extend the buses’ operational lifespan.

Concerns had been raised about the potential disruption to public transport if these buses were decommissioned. KSRTC has been struggling with a shortage of vehicles, with its fleet shrinking to 4,000 buses, compared to 6,200 when the Left government came into power. As of 30th September, the 1,200 buses were due to be scrapped under central motor vehicle regulations, which require buses to be retired after 15 years of service.

Although ?0.92 billion had been allocated in the budget for the procurement of new buses, financial constraints led to cuts across various departments, leaving KSRTC without the necessary funds. The proposal to extend the lifespan of the buses was intended to avoid disruption to services and inconvenience to passengers.

Ganesh Kumar’s letter to the Union Minister highlighted the state’s financial difficulties, asserting that many of the buses, despite their age, remained in functional condition. However, in the absence of a response from the central government, the state transport department issued the extension order to keep the buses operational. There is, however, some uncertainty regarding the legality of the state’s decision, as the final authority to grant such an extension lies with the central government. This raises the possibility that the order could be challenged in court.