KOZHIKODE: Issues related to the complete shifting of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) depot and offices to the new bus terminal complex is likely to be addressed on fast track basis. The pending works at the terminal, including the construction of the workshop and realignment of administrative block will be completed soon by the Kerala State Transport Development Finance Corporation Ltd (KTDFC).

A meeting convened by the transport minister, decided to entrust transport secretary K R Jyothilal to monitor work of the KSRTC bus terminal. Employees of the KSRTC had staged satyagraha at the bus terminal for four days demanding immediate government intervention to address the issues faced by the KSRTC employees and commuters due to the delay in completing the work of the terminal.

A high level meeting will be held at the office of the transport secretary on November 20 to discuss the work of the terminal. The KTDFC has assured to complete all pending works and handover the building to the KSRTC at the earliest.

The delay in completing the work of the terminal has been causing huge financial loss to the KSRTC.

Though the bus terminal was inaugurated nearly one-and-a-half years ago, the depot, which was shifted to Pavangad during the construction work of the new terminal, is continuing operation at Pavangad.

According to the employees, the KSRTC suffers a financial burden of Rs 7 lakh per month owing to the delay in shifting the depot to the terminal. A total of 75 schedules are operating from the bus terminal and each of these buses are forced to start and end service at Pavangad travelling an additional 20 kilo metre every day.

 During a meeting in June 2015, the employees had submitted a list of demands to the KSRTC and KTDFC and the officials have now agreed to address all issues mentioned in the list at the earliest, said K Indukumar, state committee member of Kerala State Road Transport Employees Association. They Minister and senior official have assured to complete the work at the earliest, he added.
 Demands include the construction of mechanic’s shed, workshop, sufficient number of toilets at the administrative block. According to the protesting employees, the employees of buses coming from other district have also been facing difficulty owing to the delay in shifting the depot.
The KTDFC has also agreed to make arrangements for shifting of all offices of the KSRTC, which were temporarily shifted to Pavangad, Moffussil Bus stand and regional workshop at Nadakkavu during the construction phase of the bus terminal complex, to the new terminal also s a demand of the employees. At present, the district transport office of the KSRTC is functioning at Pavangad and offices of KSRTC Vigilance and Audit, Enquiry, Welfare, Vehicle Mobility Officer are functioning at Moffussil bus stand.
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