Public suffers as KSRTC cuts down services due to diesel crisis

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The public suffered without KSRTC services on Saturday. Due to diesel shortage, long-distance services and 75% ordinary services were cut-down. The situation worsens if this continues tomorrow also. The depot chiefs have been instructed to reduce the maximum number of services on Sunday to save fuel for Monday. Many depots are running out of fuel.

The condition is much worse in southern districts. This is not a sudden crisis. When the salary distribution in June due got extended to August, the money which was assigned to give to oil companies was taken to give salaries. Although Rs 20 crore was allotted yesterday, KSRTC will receive it on Wednesday. The delay in providing this assistance worsened the situation. Rs 13 crore is to be given to oil companies as due.

Meanwhile, the management has also given instructions last night to fill diesel from private pumps using the collection money at the depots.