Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will soon offer bottled drinking water inside its buses at a price one rupee lower than the market rate, Transport Minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar has announced. The measure aims to make short breaks more convenient for travellers by removing the need to look for roadside shops to buy water.
KSRTC bottled water scheme details
Under the plan, KSRTC will buy bottled water in bulk from manufacturers and distribute it on board with KSRTC labelling. The corporation is in talks with companies to secure regular supplies. To encourage staff participation, KSRTC will pay an incentive of ₹2 to conductors and ₹1 to drivers for each bottle sold.
Officials said the corporation will fit a dedicated storage fixture adjacent to the driver’s cabin so bottles can be safely stowed and accessed during scheduled stops. There will also be a separate arrangement to store any water the driver uses personally. The label change means passengers will see bottles carrying KSRTC branding even though producers will supply the water.
Minister Ganesh Kumar described the initiative as a small but practical improvement to passenger convenience. “During travel breaks, commuters spend time and effort finding a shop. Selling bottled water on board will reduce that inconvenience,” he said. He added that discussions with suppliers were progressing to ensure an uninterrupted stock.
The policy follows sensitivity over a past personnel decision in which a driver was transferred after bottles were kept in front of a fast passenger bus. That incident, which drew attention from staff and the courts, highlighted the need for clear guidelines on belongings and facilities inside buses. KSRTC officials said the new scheme is designed to standardise how water is stored and sold, avoiding informal arrangements that can invite complaints or disciplinary action.
Transport unions and staff bodies welcomed the clarity around incentives, while consumer advocates noted the initiative’s potential to help passengers, particularly on long routes and in areas with few roadside facilities. Some raised questions about price controls and the selection of suppliers, calling for transparent procurement and quality checks to ensure safety standards.
KSRTC faces operational and financial challenges common to public transport providers, but small revenue streams from on-board sales can help offset costs while improving service. The corporation’s decision to relabel bulk-purchased bottles may also streamline inventory and enable tracking of sales and incentives.
Implementation will require coordination across depots, training for conductors on handling sales and accounting, and a system to replenish stock during layovers. Authorities expect to roll out the scheme in phases once supplier agreements and logistics are finalised.
For passengers, the immediate benefit will be convenience and modest savings. For staff, the incentive per sale provides an additional, predictable earning. For KSRTC, the scheme offers a way to enhance passenger experience and capture a small ancillary revenue stream while formalising practices that have previously led to disputes.
Key Takeaways:
- KSRTC will sell bottled water on buses in Kerala at one rupee below market price to spare passengers searching for shops during breaks.
- Water will be procured in bulk, relabelled with KSRTC branding and stored in drivers’ cabins using a special fixture.
- Conductors will earn ₹2 per bottle and drivers ₹1 as incentives; bulk supply talks with manufacturers are underway.
- The move follows an earlier controversy over a driver being transferred for keeping water bottles at the front of a bus.
