Thiruvananthapuram: Commuters continued to suffer for the second consecutive day on Monday as many bus services of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) were paralysed owing to shortage of drivers after the mass termination of empanelled drivers. Meanwhile, in a desperate move the Kerala government has decided to recruit some of the ousted empanelled drivers on a daily-wage basis to resolve the crisis.
Those drivers with more than five years of experience would be given preference, as per the decision taken at a meet chaired by transport secretary K R Jyothilal on Monday. Transport Minister A K Saseendran, who is indisposed, has agreed to the meet’s decisions.
The department is also likely to consider those who have the required qualification and experience of working at other public enterprises.
The transport department has decided that only a maximum of 600 drivers need be recruited on a contract basis in place of the 2,108 empanelled drivers who were booted out. Contract drivers should be assigned only for services that are deemed necessary. The data on the number of drivers and services as per this decision were considered during Monday’s meeting.
As many as 1,241 schedules of the KSRTC were cancelled on Monday, while only 4,597 services were operated. At least 626 services were cancelled in the southern zone, 280 in central zone and 335 in northern zone.
The bus services have been hit as the public transporter terminated 2,108 empanelled drivers from service to meet a deadline set by the Supreme Court for June 30.
Interstate bus strike withdrawn
Thiruvananthapuram: The interstate private bus strike that had been going on for a week has been withdrawn. However, the Operation Night Riders of the Motor Vehicles Department would continue. The bus owners have agreed to share the passengers' list with the night riders’ officers via email before the commencement of the journey.
A consensus was reached during the discussions held between the transport secretary and the bus owners on Monday.
The buses would continue to operate by collecting travel fare temporarily set by the Justice Ramachandran Commission, it was decided.
Bus owners have to ensure that the passengers have the basic facilities. All buses should have the GPS facility within 15 days. The transport minister also concurred with the meet's decisions.
The Interstate Bus Owners' Association said that the government has assured them that there would be no unnecessary checks. The government also assured the bus owners that it would check the court order.
