Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) drivers are gearing up to launch an agitation against the delay in implementing the revised running time of stage carriages in the state. The employees demand that the order by the State Transport Authority, dating back to November 8, 2011, which recommends the revision of the running time, should be implemented soon. The order directs that fresh permits should be issued according to the revised running time and for existing permits, the revised timings should be implemented with effect from January 1. Still, the stage carriages in the state, whose permits were issued before 2011, follow an outdated running time.
According to the old timing, the uniform running time for fast passenger buses in the state is 1.45 minutes per km, 2.30 minutes for ordinary buses, and 1.30 minutes for super fast buses. It is almost impossible to cover this target in cities where there is heavy traffic and on narrow roads. The daily target distance for each driver is also calculated according to this time. The order recommends setting the timing of stage carriages, taking into consideration the width of the road, vehicle population etc.
“Several demands have been made for the revision of the running time of existing permits. The drivers are currently under tremendous pressure owing to the tight schedules. If the order is not implemented, we have no other option but to go ahead with protests and strikes,” KSRTC Drivers’ Union general secretary R Ayyappan said.
“For instance, the 360-km stretch in Kottayam-Pala-Thodupuzha belt has been extended to 420 km, yet the running time remains the same. It has become impossible to cover the distance in the prescribed time. Following this discrepancy, the chain services fail to keep time and as a result, suffer drop in collection,” he said.
“The number of bus stands and stops have also increased. Still no revision has been made in the decades-old running time schedules. The promotion for station masters are based on the number of kilometres operated under them. This makes them reluctant to cut down the daily target distance each service has to cover,” Hareesh, a KSRTC driver, said. The reason behind a most of the recent accidents involving KSRTC buses were overspeeding. The restless schedules and the burden on the drivers are risking the safety of the passengers.
Source: New Indian Express
