No driver or conductor; brand new KSRTC buses waiting for rollout at Kasaragod depots
Kasaragod: It seems that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has not learned its lessons yet despite gasping under heavy debt loads for years.
The cash-starved corporation’s newly inducted buses, including ‘delux’ and ‘superfast’ buses, are awaiting drivers and conductors to begin their service.
They have been stationed at Kasaragod and Kanhangad depots, where around 100 posts of driver and conductor each are lying vacant. The authorities expect new staff to arrive in two weeks. Only then the new buses can start service.
At present, there are 36 buses plying the Kasaragod-Mangaluru route from Kasaragod depot. An additional six buses have been sanctioned, which are now unable to begin service for want of staff.
Kanhangad depot now operates 57 services using just 125 staff. The depot needs at least 50 drivers and as many conductors to begin seven new services.
To service the Kanhangad-Mangaluru route, nine new buses have arrived at the Kanhangad depot. Two delux buses are ready for service from Kanhangad to Punalur, which are also stationed at the depot due to unavailability of drivers and conductors.
