Thiruvananthapuram | The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Wednesday launched its cargo service, with its first consignment of mobile phones being transported from here to Aluva.
The mobile phones, brought to Thiruvananthapuram from Delhi by an Air India flight, were transported to Aluva in a truck hired by the KSRTC.
Transport Minister C P John flagged off the cargo service at the Domestic Airport Cargo Terminal here.
John said the project, included in the government's 100-day action programme, marked a major step in the history of the KSRTC.
The cargo service, launched with five vehicles in the first phase, would be expanded in stages, he said.
The new initiative would help strengthen the KSRTC's existing logistics network and increase its non-ticket revenue, the minister said, adding that the corporation would eventually have a fleet of more than 100 trucks.
The KSRTC entered the cargo sector after studying the model successfully implemented by various state road transport corporations across the country as part of efforts to augment its non-ticket revenue.
The revenue generated through the service would be utilised in a manner that would benefit KSRTC passengers, John said.
Five trucks taken on a wet-lease basis are currently being used for the cargo operations.
Scorpion Cart Logistics and Cargo Cart Logistics are providing support to the KSRTC for the service, the minister said.
