There will be no more sudden cancellation of KSRTC bus services on rainy days for the resurfacing work of the mud-filled parking ground at Karikkamury has finally started, after repeated requests to the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd.

“The Rs 55 lakh resurfacing work will be completed in two weeks. We are removing the slush first before leveling it with a vibrator roller.

KSRTC Karikkamuri Parking Ground, Ernakulam

Metal mix will then be spread over it and then inter-locking tiles will be placed so that the ground will not deteriorate again,” P P Jose, regional manager of the Kerala State Construction Corporation (KSCC), the implementing agency, said.

Incidents of buses getting stuck in mud are frequent at the Karikkamury parking ground near the Ernakulam KSRTC depot. On May 3, 24 buses were stuck, resulting in cancellation of trips and a loss of nearly Rs 2 lakh to the corporation.

The over one acre at Karikkamury was provided to the Corporation by the Kochi Metro Project Ltd as compensation for 1.12 acres acquired at the bus station to build the Salim Raja flyover.

However, resurfacing is being done only on half the ground; this may undermine the whole work. “This is utter foolishness as the buses will again get stuck in mud at the entrance,” the official said.

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