Unlike Gandhi Park, East Fort, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) in Thiruvananthapuram presents an unheard mask, the District Transport Office building near the bus depot. In the office, the museum wing in the office is marked by the colored plastic chairs placed on both sides of the entrance. Concrete floors and white walls paint a great picture, opposite to the intimidating image of the KSRTC bus, called affectionately. Anuvandi.
However, inside the museum, as you see, you will see walls adorned with wooden frames and multiwood canvas (a type of polymer), which are all painted with vibrant acrylic. Painting documents buses have been continuing with the Travancore State Transport Department (TSTD) as well as KSRTC buses since 1938, after the formation of the corporation in 1965, the museum has been set in such a way that those who choose to travel in the ride of KSRTC Swift’s Nagarklakal period, they can see before the artwork.
“1938-Model Bus was operated by such as Salter, or Slight SaippuIt was inaugurated by Superintendent of Travancore State Transport Department, when it was inaugurated by Mr. Chithira Thirunal, “Artist Mahesh Veliugan. He pointed to a green bus painting, which across the Karamna Bridge, with a TSTD board, Kanyakumari to Nagerkowel, said 27 buses.
It is believed that the bus like the salter, or the salter is operated SaippuSuperintendent of Travancore State Transport Department Negroile. Photo Credit: Nainu Oman
Mahesh, 53, did 18 work with the help of two other painters. It consists of four buses from 1938, two of which were depicted in the Shades of Gray.
Mahesh Velayug Photo Credit at KSRTC Art Museum at Eastern Fort, Thiruvananthapuram: Nainu Oman
Mahesh was assigned to work in the museum on the instructions of Thiruvananthapuram Assistant Transport Officer, CP Prasad. Earlier, he portrayed the murals of former state ministers of transport at KSRTC Central Workshop in Pappanmcode. As a painter at the depot, Mahesh paint the destination boards, and “The Royal View double-Dekar buses, which were released earlier this year, designed buses in Munnar.
In the museum, Mahesh has portrayed the 1977 model double-dekar buses with reputed red and yellow palettes. Mahesh says, “It was difficult to find the colors of buses. We came to know what they were by asking retired transport workers.”
Another 1977 bus model, compared to normal KSRTC buses, with a strange, is also a slightly lifted part in the middle of its chassis area. Mahesh says, “They closed it because it was impractical.”
The simply model of 1977, longer than the normal KSRTC buses, a peculiar, slightly raised part in the middle. , Photo Credit: Nainu Oman
“The 1964 benz model buses in red and yellow were the first person to come out after the formation of KSRTC,” says Mahesh.
The 1965-model bus, which is currently used as a depot van for repair, spare parts, and malfunction buses, is on performance with a blue and white venad bus. In the name of a medieval empire located in southern Kerala, Vanad is still one of the most found buses in the state.
Pictures include depicting pink buses for women, and a ring-road service bus (a bus after a circular route) called RJDAI Bus, which is no longer in use.
Rashturn buses were launched in April 2012, but were soon discontinued after financial loss.
A painting of the Cauvery Boat Services, which was controlled by KSRTC until 1985, is also on the performance when the Transport Department adopted it directly.
Cauvery Boat Service which was handled by Transport Department from KSRTC photo credit: Nainu Oom
Mahesh says that four more pictures are to be added to the collection, which he expects to finish in a month.
The artist is also expecting to portray private buses, which existed in front of the State Transport Department buses. “One of the first buses was the size of an extended autorickshaw. Since I got a hand on a picture of it, I would like to draw it soon.”
Published – September 16, 2025 05:00 pm IST