THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC will soon be divided into three independent sectors with the aim of profitability, self-sufficiency and incentives for employees apart from salary. The decision was taken by the management after government allowed three KAS officers to the department.

As in Karnataka, each region will be a separate corporation headed by KAS officials. With the addition of 'Swift'— the bus designed for long-distance travel, KSRTC will effectively have four sections. It is now divided into South, Central and North regions. Earlier, the Sushil Khanna report favoured new divisions within KSRTC. The transport department had also given instructions to KSRTC to implement it. For this, a plan was actually prepared and handed over to KSRTC in March 2023.

Earlier, in the report, CMD Biju Prabhakar pleaded with the government to allow four KAS officials to ease the working within the department. However, the government took too much time to give assent. After three months of training, the three KAS officers will be appointed as regional heads. They will be trained as ATOs in units for two weeks and as depot engineers for one week. If there arises a need, the KAS officials will also be sent to neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to learn the intricacies of the trade.

• Appointment and transfer on sector basis

• Salaries, fuel and spare parts expenses in the sector revenue

• Government has to pay fixed amount for expenses like loan repayment.

• Buses can run on new routes

• Private bus routes can be taken over as soon as the permit expires.

• Private buses can be hired if required.