TNSTC Kumbakonam bags 5 national awards

Trichy: Kumbakonam division of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has bagged five awards at the national public bus transport excellence awards (2023-24) instituted by Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU), ahead of other divisions in TNSTC, State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) and Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC Chennai).
ASRTU functioning under the ministry of road transport and highways is a common platform comprising various state road transport undertakings. The awards are provided under 30 categories to promote competitive spirit among state transport units and encourage best practices in bus transport.
Tamil Nadu transport corporations have bagged 19 awards, of which Kumbakonam secured the most followed by Salem, Madurai, SETC, MTC, and Villupuram divisions. Kumbakonam was adjudged winner in fuel efficiency (high speed diesel vehicles) in both mofussil (up to 4,000 fleet) and urban (above 1,000 fleet) categories. In tyre performance, the division won the top award in urban and runner-up award in rural. It was named winner in vehicle utilisation (urban) too. In all, the division pocketed Rs3 lakh in cash prizes. With branches in Trichy, Karur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam and Karaikudi, Kumbakonam TNSTC operates 3,184 scheduled bus services per day.
"Continuous follow ups and best technical practices in maintaining our fleet are reasons for winning maximum awards among TNSTC divisions. Cash prize won shall be utilised for labour welfare activities," R Ponmudi, managing director, Kumbakonam TNSTC, told TOI. He received the awards at the event organised by ASRTU in New Delhi on Saturday. TNSTC said that timely maintenance of tyres including ensuring standard air pressure and removing small stones trapped in treads helped them increase the longevity of tyres. Factors such as better maintained highways also play a role. Officials added that overall maintenance of buses in preventing breakdowns has helped Kumbakonam win the vehicle utilisation award.