No recruitment in KSRTC despite department achieving 'new' target

Tuesday 22 October, 2024 | 12:27 AM READ MALAYALAM VERSION

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite achieving the target of reducing the staff per bus ratio to 5.5, KSRTC is hesitant to make new recruitment in the department. The staff-to-bus ratio in KSRTC has now come down to 5.03.

After the ratio reached 8.0 in 2016, Prof. Sushil Khanna's report was considered, and steps were taken to bring it down to 5.5. The ratio of conductor and driver in a bus was 2.75, which was brought down to 1.5. However, this became a burden for long-distance services. Services, including in rural areas, have been drastically curtailed to streamline duties.

KSRTC believes 1665 temporary employees would be enough for 555 newly purchased buses. Although the tender process is in progress, the purchase can be made only if the finance department approves the amount from the plan fund.

The Transport Employees Union (AITUC) has demanded KSRTC withdraw the move to make a temporary appointment for the post of Depot Engineer.

Lack of supervisory personnel for the maintenance of 10 to 18-year-old buses is a serious situation. Union General Secretary M. G. Rahul demanded that those who have experience should be promoted and appointed as depot engineers.