Bus for KSRTC from Josettan; Native of Angamaly donates Rs 40 Lakh, first in history

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Jose of Mookkannoor in Angamaly donated Rs 40 lakh to purchase a bus for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). This is the first time in the history of KSRTC that a private individual has donated money to purchase a bus for the corporation. Jose handed over a cheque for Rs 40 lakh to Chief Minister V D Satheesan at a simple function held in the chief minister’s chamber after the cabinet meeting.

The chief minister accepted the cheque, saying that this should be a good beginning and expressed hope that more individuals and institutions would come forward to purchase and donate buses to KSRTC. He then handed over the cheque to Transport Minister C P John. Minister Roji M John said that Jose’s decision was exemplary.

Jose runs a company called Heeman Auto Robo Park in Minister Roji M John’s constituency. After hearing the chief minister’s appeal for people to come forward and support KSRTC, Jose decided to purchase and donate a bus. He first informed Minister Roji M John about his decision. When Roji M John met Transport Minister C P John on Tuesday, he informed him about Jose’s initiative and later contacted Jose directly, who agreed to hand over the amount.

Jose has only one demand, the bus should start service from the Angamaly depot. He also requested the transport minister to introduce a route connecting the Athirappilly tourism region with southern Kerala. Roji M John also raised the same request. The transport minister assured him that a bus service would be operated on the route proposed by Jose.

C P John said that when the Calicut City Cooperative Bank had earlier donated money to purchase a bus for KSRTC, there was an expectation that more people would follow the same model. He added that this is the first such instance in KSRTC’s history and expressed hope that more people would come forward to support the corporation. The cheque donated by Jose was handed over to KSRTC CMD Dr P S Pramoj Shankar.

As part of the government’s 100-day action plan, KSRTC is providing an opportunity for sponsors to contribute buses with the aim of improving public transport facilities. The transport minister said that buses could be provided using contributions from local self-government institutions, cooperative institutions, companies, trusts, voluntary organisations and CSR funds.