Kochi To Get A Double-Decker 'City Tour' Service For Christmas And New Year's Eve
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is set to introduce an exciting new way for tourists to explore Kochi—an open-top double-decker bus designed to offer a unique "City Tour" experience. This bus, which was previously used for the "Heritage Tour" in Thalassery, has now been relocated to Kochi.
The KSRTC is commencing route trials on December 2 as part of its plan to operate the services. One of the routes being considered is from Madhava Pharmacy to Fort Kochi through MG Road. However, the narrow roads and height of structures and trees pose hurdles. To mitigate this, the KSRTC plans to seek the help of the Kochi Corporation to clear tree branches along the route and make it navigable.
The trials will be run on a couple of routes before the finalisation of the route and schedule of operations. The plan is to operate the “City Tour” rides on the lines of successful ones currently operating in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.
The authorities plan to operate the tour services late in the evening after 6PM to facilitate the enjoyment of evening and night views. It also means there will be less traffic at that time. “If successful, we will deploy another bus, probably the one currently being operated as a passenger service in the Angamaly-Thoppumpady section,” a KSRTC official said.
The old-modelled double-clutch bus, which can accommodate 70 passengers, underwent minor refurbishment and maintenance work at the Ernakulam main depot. The seats inside it are arranged in such a way that tourists will get a clear glimpse of the evening and night views of the city.
The bus also features a good audio system, which will enrich the experience with interesting commentary. The authorities anticipate much demand for the “City Tour” services, especially during the upcoming Christmas and New Year season. The fare for the upper deck is expected to be INR 200 per seat, while the lower deck may cost INR 100.
(With inputs from multiple news agencies)
