KSRTC’s new time-bound ticket booking rule troubles passengers

Kannur: The recent changes to the online ticket booking system for long-distance KSRTC buses have triggered outsized trouble for short-distance travellers, while delivering a clear revenue gain for the state-run operator. The introduction of a time-bound booking rule has affected passengers travelling on long-distance services who alight at intermediate stops.

For instance, a passenger seeking to book a ticket to Kottayam on an AC bus departing Kannur for Thiruvananthapuram at 11.35 pm on Thursday can do so only after 11.35 pm on Wednesday! In effect, tickets for such journeys become available only 24 hours before departure, unlike earlier, when bookings could be made well in advance or cancelled if plans changed.

The same restriction applies to several other services, including the KSRTC Minnal bus from Bathery to Thiruvananthapuram. A passenger boarding at Bathery and alighting at Kottayam can book a ticket only 24 hours in advance, while booking from Bathery to Thiruvananthapuram remains open at any time. Some passengers have voiced concerns that the system now prioritises end-to-end travellers at the cost of those undertaking shorter journeys.

Corporation defends curbs
KSRTC, on the other hand, says the new system is aimed at preventing short-distance travellers from booking seats on long-distance buses well in advance, a practice that officials say was being exploited by private operators. Kannur DTO Manoj said agencies running private services would often block large numbers of tickets for short-distance travel on long-distance KSRTC buses. This made it difficult for genuine long-distance passengers to secure seats, eventually pushing them towards private buses.

The agencies later cancelled the tickets booked through KSRTC, resulting in revenue loss and forcing the corporation to operate services with vacant seats. For instance, when a passenger boards a bus in Kannur and disembarks in Kochi, the seats from Kochi to Thiruvananthapuram often remain unoccupied, resulting in significant revenue loss. The 24-hour advance booking window for passengers alighting en route is intended to curb such misuse. According to the official, the revised system has helped minimise revenue loss.

Inconvenience for short-distance passengers
Meanwhile, the revised booking system has caused significant inconvenience to many passengers, particularly those travelling short distances. On KSRTC Minnal and AC buses operating between Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram, passengers bound for intermediate destinations such as Kottayam or Kochi are unable to book tickets well in advance. Even when tickets are booked 24 hours prior to departure, travellers often end up with only the rear seats.

As a result, many passengers are forced to rely on private buses. Fares on private services are often nearly double those charged by KSRTC, and during peak seasons, ticket prices are hiked arbitrarily.

KSRTC officials, however, clarify that the revised system has been implemented only on Minnal and AC services. Long-distance Super Fast and Fast Passenger buses have not been brought under the new booking regime. Officials noted that long-distance services are the corporation's main revenue source, with some AC buses earning more than Rs 60,000 per trip.

While the new ticketing reform has undeniably made travel more difficult for short-distance passengers, officials maintain that it has played a significant role in boosting KSRTC’s revenue.