Beware! Those opting for KSRTC multi-axle Volvo bus to travel to Bangalore from the city is putting their lives at risk.
For, it is one person who drives continuously for upto 12 hours in a stretch. Adding to the woes is the fact that after Palakkad, the KSRTC does not have any resting station.
The blatant violation of norms by the KSRTC comes when Volvo India mandates that two drivers should be appointed in such buses for the safety of the passengers so that when a driver gets tired, the other one can take over. “The distance between Ernakulam and Bangalore is 550 kms. As per norms of the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD), a driver should be allowed behind the wheels only for eight hours with two hours of rest before the next service begins. In case of the Ernakulam-Bangalore Volvo, the driver is over burdened,” said sources.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation which has the largest fleet of Volvo buses in the country has appointed two drivers for every inter-state service. Most of these drivers are driver-cum-conductors. According to A S Boban, KSRTC Drivers Union State organising secretary, though the High Court had issued an order to the KSRTC to appoint driver-cum-conductors in inter-state services operating from Kerala, it has not been implemented by the latter. If a driver-cum-conductor is appointed, the person can function as a spare driver as well as a conductor,” he said.
The order was issued on a Public Interest Litigation filed by an individual on August 22, 2011.
However, the unions opposed the move citing reasons like loss of conductor posts which would render many jobless.
“This is an unwanted opposition as the conductors can be incorporated to other jobs. Besides, the job of a conductor in inter-state services is hardly necessary as all reservations are being made online. A conductor need not go to every seat and issue tickets. The conductor is of not much use in Volvo buses. Instead, the KSRTC should ensure an extra driver,” Boban added.
The Ernakulam-Bangalore service currently takes off at 6.30 pm from the Ernakulam KSRTC Stand and reaches Bangalore at 6.30 am the next day.
Many find the service useful as it helps them reach their destination well before college and office hours.
Meanwhile, a top KSRTC official with the depot said the KSRTC was forced to appoint a single driver as per the orders from Thiruvananthapuram.
“We have no idea why such an order. However, we have been forced to comply to it,” he said.
The drivers unions will organizw a protest in front of the ATO’s officer at Ernakulam today.
New Indian Express