Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is set to launch short-distance chain services of fast passenger buses between Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram. Though it was planned to start the service from Monday, it will be delayed as the labour unions voiced concerns about abrupt changes in the duty schedule.

New services will be on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam, Kollam-Alappuzha, Alappuzha-Ernakulam, Ernakulam-Kottarakkara, Kottarakkara-Kottayam, Kottayam-Muvattupuzha, Muvattupuzha-Thrissur routes and back.

Passengers can make use of these short services for their long journeys. Current short-distance services will remain.

As per the plan buses will shuttle between key destinations every ten minutes from 5 am to 7pm.

A chain service will be available every five minutes during rush hours -- 7.30 am to 9 am and 4.30 pm to 6 pm.

KSRTC plans to run more services that connect two or three districts at the most. With the new system, the public transporter aims to do away with long-distance fast passenger services which have become unpopular as passengers have to put up with long hours in the bus.

For long-distance travellers, there will be a service every 30 minutes on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kayamkulam and Kayamkulam-Ernakulam route. There will be a service every 20 minutes on Muvattupuzha-Thrissur route and every 40 minutes on Kottayam-Thrissur route.