KSRTC Chairman A P Joshi on Monday called on heavy vehicle manufacturers such as Tata Motors to consider transparency in announcing KMPL (Kilometre Per Litre Mileage) in buses.
Speaking at the ‘High Mileage Awards’ ceremony to drivers and mechanical staff of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation organised by commercial vehicle major Tata Motors, Mr Joshi said, “When it comes to manufacture of cars and two-wheelers, there is much transparency, but when the issue is with manufacture of buses there is not a single brochure that mentions the KMPL mileage a heavy vehicle is supposed to give. I hope Tata Motors considers this issue” Mr Joshi said.
The KSRTC chief also noted that fuel efficiency of Tata buses has come down in the last two years. Tata buses record a KMPL of 5.07 as opposed to 5.17 of its competitors.
“Tata continues to be a major provider of bus chassis to us. We have placed an order for 3370 chassis this year alone. We also want Tata to consider adopting bus depots where Tata vehicles are in a majority,” added Mr Joshi. Earlier D Thangaraj, principal secretary, Transport Department presented the Tata High Mileage Award to 307 drivers from the Mangalore, Davanagere and Chikmagalur divisions for the years 2003-04 to 2007-08.  Buses covering five lakh km without any major repairs received the awards. The parameters to judge the award included best driving habits practiced by KSRTC drivers. R Shankar, Regional Manager (South), Tata Motors was present on the occasion.