THE AWAITED FALL OF KSRTC

Now it must be an unworthy attempt to find the cause of the fall of KSRTC.  Once stood at the centre stage as one of the most prestigious establishment and recognised by the whole country as an excellent road transport network has at last fell in to a deep crater from where the recovery is near impossible. It all looks like a healthy young man falling sick and despite the availability of good hospitals and qualified doctors, but could not have treated and saved because of lack of medicine. Our state government is like this. Now  many people may come up to conduct an autopsy of the dead one to find out the cause of the death. Such ones should be laughed at and turned away.

Can we do something now? Yes we can do something to retain the memory of the once reputed institution. Given below is how to do it.

Give the buses to private operators  on specific routes on rent per km basis. Buses should strictly run on such agreed routes for agreed period of time. The drivers should continue to remain as the staff of the Corporation. Their salary and allowances as currently eligible should be paid by the private operators. However, in the case of conductors, they should remain as the staff of the private operators. It should be ensured that at least 50% of the existing conductors should be absorbed by the private operators. If the government wants to impose road taxes and other relevant fees on these buses, should be collected from the private operators. All repairs and maintenance should be carried out timely by the private operators. Fuel and lubricants shall be provided by the private operators at their cost. The buses should follow the existing colour code with the government emblem. However they should be allowed to use a given area for them to display their names under 'Hired by ....'  The private operators should paint the buses yearly once at their cost. The private operators should be allowed to provide a given area on both sides for advertisement and the earnings from this shall be theirs. Unless the service on any route is suspended for a minimum period of time with the permission of the Corporation the private operators are bound to pay the rent for the full month. Traffic penalties, if any,  shall be borne by the private operators. Buses should be insured by private operators at their cost and in the case of any accidents, making good of the buses and extending compensation to the concerned shall be fully rest with the private operators or insurance companies as the case may be. The route distance shall be calculated from  the out gate of the starting bus station to the in gate of the ending bus station. Anything more to be included here may be done after mutual consultation.

However, if the corporation likes, they may retain 10% of the existing buses and operate on selected routes. Interstate routes may be considered. In such case they may retain actual number of staff required for operation. Cut down the number of existing managerial staff the maximum possible.

KSRTC may transfer all the remaining staff to other departments as per requirements. In case someone is left out must be allowed to avail voluntary retirement with due benefits. It may be ensured that no surplus staff is left on KSRTC account. It may also be ensured that most of the workshops, bus stands and offices of KSRTC may be leased out under open tender. Under no circumstances Trade Union activity should be allowed in KSTRC.

Every Malayali must know that excessive politics have brought the Corporation to this pathetic state. Now the existing government is not at all capable of rejuvenating the organisation as the government itself is struggling hard to meet its day to day expenses. If the KSRTC management and the government do not heed  to this suggestion the decomposed body may stink a lot and find it difficult to dispose it off later.

K V George