Transport minister Aryadan Mohammad said in the assembly on Monday that the state-owned road transport corporation will die a natural death if the diesel crisis continues.
Aryadan was replying to a submission by opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, who alleged that the government was cutting down schedules owing to diesel shortage and it has badly affected the passengers.
Aryadan refuted allegations that the KSRTC had cut down schedules, saying the corporation had only diverted services from loss-making routes. “However, if the crisis continues, the KSRTC will soon die a natural death and there won’t be any requirement to cut down schedules,” he said.
The KSRTC, which completes 75 years on Tuesday, won’t be able to weather the present crisis that erupted after the Centre lifted the diesel subsidy. The corporation was going through a monthly loss of Rs 75 crore. With the lifting of diesel subsidy, an additional loss of Rs 16.5 crore is being incurred. With this, the total loss incurred by the KSRTC in a month has become Rs 91.5 crore and the annual loss Rs 1,098 crore.
Aryadan said a three-member committee headed by the chief secretary was expected to come out with a solution to help the crisis-ridden KSRTC. The report will be submitted soon and a final decision on how to help the corporation will be taken at the next cabinet meeting.
Aryadan opposed Achuthanandan’s demand to send an unanimous resolution passed by the assembly in protest against the Centre’s decision.
Source: Times Of India
