Kerala govt notifies 503 new bus routes under last-mile connectivity scheme
The scheme aims to reduce the lack of public transport facilities in urban and rural areas.
The scheme aims to reduce the lack of public transport facilities in urban and rural areas.
The scheme aims to reduce the lack of public transport facilities in urban and rural areas.
The state government has notified 503 new bus routes across Kerala. The Transport Department has issued the notification based on the proposal of the Transport Commissioner named 'Kerala Public Transport Urban-Rural Integration and Last-Mile Connectivity Scheme, 2025'. The scheme aims to reduce the lack of public transport facilities in urban and rural areas.
The government had received various representations, requests and proposals from Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), local body representatives, students, NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisation), resident associations, and other stakeholders to address the growing need for an efficient and accessible public transportation system.
The objective of the scheme is to ensure adequate, efficient, and economical stage carriage services in Kerala by promoting last-mile connectivity in both urban and rural areas, enhancing rural transport, reducing traffic congestion, increasing accessibility and mobility for people, and optimising the use of public transport infrastructure.
The department has laid down a list of conditions to select the applicants for a license. The applicant shall produce new stage carriage vehicle registered in Kerala for applying for a license. The vehicle shall be installed with the devices of speed limiting, vehicle location tracking and digital time punching and shall be fitted with a minimum of five cameras with recording capability to capture video of its front, rear, interior and door steps and a driver-facing camera with a fatigue detection sensor.
The vehicle shall be equipped with digital display boards on the front, rear and left side of the vehicle showing the destination and the time schedule. The fees for the application, issuance, renewal, transfer/cancellation of a license shall be ₹5,500. Josgiri - Iritty covering 64.5 km, Josgiri-Vallithode covering 79.5 km, Cheekad-Alakode, CherupuzhaTaliparamba with a distance f 55.5 km, Sreekrishnapuram – Ottappalam (54 km) are some of the long distance routes proposed under the new scheme. Intermediate places are included under the proposed route.