The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has launched a new Priyadarshini bus service connecting Marady and Thirumarady panchayats with Muvattupuzha and Kolencherry, restoring a public transport link that residents had sought since the Covid pandemic.
The service operates through Mannathur and Vadakara and will run two services daily. The launch addresses a long-standing mobility gap in the two panchayats, where residents currently depend on limited bus connectivity and autorickshaws for urgent travel.
According to Marady panchayat president Shanty Ebraham, the earlier KSRTC bus service operating through the panchayats stopped during the pandemic. Since then, local residents have had access to only one service in the morning and one in the evening, restricting travel options outside those timings.
The limited schedule has had a direct financial impact on residents, particularly those who need to travel at short notice. With few alternatives available, locals have been forced to use autorickshaws in emergency situations, increasing the cost of routine and essential journeys.
The new route also follows road repair work carried out along the Mannathur-Vadakara link. Ebraham said the Muvattupuzha MLA had allotted Rs 3 crore for repairing the road. Residents subsequently questioned the usefulness of the improved road if public bus services were not available along the route.
The service links the two panchayats with Muvattupuzha and Kolencherry municipalities, creating a direct public transport connection across the local administrative areas. For residents, the route is intended to provide an alternative to more expensive private transport and improve access to nearby urban centres.
The launch is also an example of how road investment and bus operations need to function together. While road repairs can improve access and travel conditions, the absence of scheduled public transport can leave residents dependent on costlier modes. The new KSRTC service is the first reported operational response to that gap since the earlier service was discontinued.
The two daily services will now operate via Mannathur and Vadakara, with the KSRTC route serving residents of Marady and Thirumarady as well as passengers travelling towards Muvattupuzha and Kolencherry.
