Pre-order meals and get it delivered to your seat on KSRTC bus; tender issued

Ever wished your KSRTC bus had a hassle-free facility to order meals to your seat, especially when on long journeys? If all goes well, it will soon be a reality. KSRTC has invited interested parties to set up food stalls at its bus stations to provide pre-ordered meals for passengers. The service will be web- and app-based, allowing riders to book meals based on availability and their location, like on trains. There will also be a call centre facility for the same. The corporation is also planning to provide the service 24/7, and the delivery time of the food will be the scheduled arrival of the bus at a particular station. Here are a few of the other features of the service, once implemented.

Food options
Passengers can order vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals through the service, and item prices will be uniform across all outlets. The service provider will also hand over a bill indicating the meal prices and packing charges of the dish ordered. Only those with a valid Food Safety Certificate and a minimum of six months experience in the travel sector food delivery - including in bus transport catering, airports and railways - will be eligible to provide the service. 

Business-class ride
A few days ago, the corporation also announced the plan to launch a business-class-style luxurious bus service. The premium service will also have a hostess, light food options, comfortable seats like on flights, headphones, a smart TV, a small pantry with a microwave and high-speed service. It's expected to be launched after the completion of the NH widening activities. The Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam sector will be the first to benefit from this non-stop express service, and passengers will reach their destinations in about 3.5-4 hours. That said, it might have planned stops at restrooms or chosen hotels, Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar said.