Having barely scraped through the recent diesel crisis, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is now gearing up for tougher battles ahead. Officials are frantically seeking solutions to steer the cash-strapped KSRTC, away from its present state.
Starting from Monday, the ED Vigilance of the KSRTC at Thiruvanathapuram has deployed 352 ticket inspectors and checking squads at all major and minor junctions across the state to study the current functioning of transport buses.
“The inspectors have identified 154 junctions in the state which have KSRTC presence. They have been asked to stand on duty at these junctions during peak hours (7.30 am-10.30 am and 4.30 pm -6.30 pm) and find out whether all the KSRTC buses are operating as per schedule. If the timings fixed by the depots are not people-friendly, the change in timings which needs to be incorporated for the buses should be alerted at the concerned depots,” an official with the squad told Express.
The bid is to increase the number of passengers in KSRTC buses. If the buses are found to be plying empty, the inspectors will ensure that the buses are stopped for a short span to encourage entry of more passengers. This procedure is applicable for ordinary and fast buses.
Additional Transport Officer C Venugopal said that if two or three KSRTC buses coming from different routes are seen stopping at the same point at similar timings, the squad has been asked to inform the concerned depots. A record of all the changes that need to be incorporated will be sent from all depots to Thiruvananthapuram, the official added.
Also, unprofitable routes will be identified in the process. This procedures is being implemented on a trial basis and will continue till March 10.
According to a top-level Vigilance official, a similar drive was held in the past, but it was only done on a district or depot basis. It is for the first time that the move is being implemented at the state-level.
In Ernakulam, inspectors have been deployed at the High Court, Kakkanad, Vyttila, Tripunithura, Aroor, Thoppumpady, Perumbavoor, Kothamangalam, Aluva pump junction, Paravoor Kavala, Athani, Kolencherry and Muvattapuzha.
Source: New Indian Express
