Rusting conditions

KSRTC is in a situation where it is unable to pay salaries without getting money from the government. At the same time, several high-tech buses are remaining idle in depots and yards and getting damaged by rust. It is the extreme inefficiency that has put the corporation in such a situation. The High Court has sought an explanation from KSRTC in a public interest litigation filed against the rusting of 2,800 buses. On April 18, 'Kerala Kaumudi' published a special report stating that 2800 KSRTC buses were being destroyed by rust. The petition was filed citing media reports including this. The court has asked the KSRTC to give details such as the number of buses that are getting destroyed by rust, how long the buses have been lying idle and what the corporation is planning to do. In any case, the KSRTC authorities are likely to come up with some reasons for abandoning the buses, worth around Rs 700 crore, in the yards.

Failure to implement things by citing reasons is a sign of establishments that are about to get perished. KSRTC used to operate 5000 schedules per day before the Covid pandemic. However, now there are only 3000 schedules in that place. The management had pointed out that the main reason for the reduction in schedule was the lack of buses. At the same time, buses, that were in use for a very short period, are being abandoned in the yard in the name of minor repairs. The KSRTC will not last long if things move in such a manner. If the corporation sinks completely, the trade unions will lose their relevance. Therefore, the trade unions must cooperate with the management and try to save the corporation. In the old days, everyone relied on KSRTC buses for travel. Today the number of private vehicles has increased tenfold. The middle class has started moving away from government buses. This would not have happened if the authorities had taken a professional approach by foreseeing all this. Although it is late, the authorities should not hesitate to make reforms. Otherwise, KSRTC will soon perish.

Bus fares in Kerala were hiked recently. Meanwhile, in Delhi, bus travel was made completely free for 10 lakh workers registered with the Delhi government. Masons, painters, welders, carpenters and crane workers can travel for free. In addition, bus travel is free for women. A large section of women who go for small work will benefit from this. The authorities in Kerala might say that they cannot come up with such schemes as the KSRTC does not have high revenue as the Delhi government. None of this is a matter of availability of money but a matter of attitude. For several years, the authorities have been pursuing the old-fashioned way of raising ticket fares to solve the financial crisis. There is no point in expecting any benefits from people thinking in such a manner. They can only be given setbacks. That is what the people have been giving them.