THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amidst the strife between labor unions and management, KSRTC income through ticket sales saw a saw a drop of Rs 1 crore per day. RTC had created history in January by giving salary to employees from its own income. But these losses mean that the corporation has to request for government funds to distribute salary, like the old times or else go for bank loans.

There were days in January when ticket collection went up to Rs 8.5 crores per day and average collection stood at Rs 6.75 crores. Till 26th of January, the collections were steady. On 27th, this dropped to Rs 5.6 crores. Apart from hartal and other days of shut down, the collection was above Rs 6 crores. The corporation was even able to cope with the shortage of employees by restructuring the routes. The crisis began when Thachankary was removed from his position as CMD. Nobody took over his position and this effected the functioning of KSRTC. Labor union leaders tried to sabotage and impose themselves at depots.

Deputy General Manager issued a circular on February 1, to resolve the drop in the collection. All units were directed to fulfill their targets. But nothing happened. Ticket collection on that day was Rs 5.85 crores.

Tomin J. Thachankary even had a plan to hike salaries of employees before Onam by generating an extra monthly income of Rs 50 crores. The government themselves seems to have meddled with that plan by removing Thachankary from KSRTC.

Thachankary’s plan was to make KSRTC self-efficient in fulfilling all financial burdens except pensions.