THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister AK Antony has told KSRTC MD Biju Prabhakar that buses should not be overcrowded and more services should be provided during rush hours. The action was taken following the news published by 'Kerala Kaumudi' yesterday that people were boarding the buses in masses in violation of pandemic norms due to lack of adequate services. The minister also said that the congestion in private buses will also be monitored.

It has been directed to arranged services from Monday, which is a working day, as per the requirements so that there is no congestion in the bus. The MD has asked the Operations Division to make the necessary arrangements.

When bus services resumed after the lockdown, passenger numbers were low in the early days. Later the number of passengers increased. The condition was that the employees should not stay at home but go to the respective depots for standby duty. However, the vigilance unit has informed the chief office that in some depots the employees come and go from time to time and some go to union activities. The operations department tried to temporarily send those on standby to nearby depots instead of going on duty at the depots with more employees, but the move was thwarted by the intervention of the organizations.