Nipah virus causes minor dip in passenger traffic to Kerala; 15% loss for KSRTC
Last week, panic spread over the deadly Nipah virus that claimed 13 lives in Kerala. In the state, the district administrations were quick to keep a vigil, especially in the bordering districts. It is learnt that many Kannadigas working in Kerala have postponed travel for the time being, but KSRTC officials said there is only a slight dip in its traffic movement.
Apart from regular services from Mangaluru to Kasargod in Kerala (bordering Mangaluru) KSRTC, Mangaluru runs one Airavat bus up to Ernakulam from Mangaluru. Mangaluru KSRTC Divisional Controller Deepak Kumar told BM, “We have noticed a slight drop in passenger traffic post reports of Nipah virus. The drop in load factor is about 10-15 per cent. This drop need not be only because of Nipah. Ramzan has also begun,” he said.
However, KSRTC’s central division in Bengaluru saw no change in passenger traffic. Prabhakar Reddy Division Controller Bengaluru Central division said people are travelling as usual. “We have not noticed any dip in the traffic. On Sunday night, KSRTC(Karnataka) operated about 90 extra services from Kerala to Bengaluru. We are not all noticing any shortage of passengers. When we look at Khozikode the drop is just 2-3 per cent, which cannot be attributed to Nipah,” he said.
The KSRTC operates about 25 services from Bengaluru to Kerala every day. KSRTC operates one service to Thiruvananthapuram, six to Ernakulam, four to Thrissur, two to Palakkad, two to Kasargod, five to Cannanore and about six services to Calicut.
“When monsoon begins, there is an automatic drop in the traffic. For Kozhikode, during the weekends, we generally operate two extra services, but this week we operated only one extra service. There is a reduction of just 40-45 passengers and hence we cannot conclude that it is due to Nipah virus. We have a reservation counter in Kozhikode and we are getting regular feedback,” said Reddy.
Sushma Barvathaya, Consultant Faculty, ICICI Academy for Skills (IFIG), said, “I have been a frequent traveller to my hometown (Mangaluru) from Kochi. However, the outbreak of Nipah virus has forced me to stay back in Kochi as I have to pass Kozhikode, if I take a bus or train. More so with the confusion of the reason behind its spreading, my friends and family will panic even if decide to travel. So I will be able to travel only after the panic had subsided. I sometimes joke with my friends that in case of an emergency, I will have to fly to Mangaluru via Bengaluru.”
