Protesting against the KSRTC management decision to curtail several services from depots across the state, DYFI activists picketed the KSRTC bus stand at Ernakulam on Friday.
There have been alleged moves by the management to cancel over 2,000 unprofitable and non-viable services based on the Supreme Court ruling that no diesel subsidies should be provided to KSRTC from last Monday. Currently, the KSRTC is also eyeing curtailment of services of Low-floor buses which do not yield much profit to the Corporation. Sources said there have been moves to cancel the long-distance buses such as Thiruvananthapuram-Bangalore Volvo service.
DYFI state committee member P V Anitha, who inaugurated the protest ‘Save KSRTC’ in front of the KSRTC bus stand alleged that the move of the state government to cut down the number of KSRTC bus services would affect the employment opportunities of educated youths.
“The move is to aid the private bus sector. If the KSRTC buses don’t operate through the routes, this will be a major boost for the private bus sector as the owners can increase their services. If the step is not mitigated, private corporates will handle our public transportation,” she added.
DYFI district president P Vasudevan presided over the protest meet. “The DYFI would intensify its protest campaign if the government deliberately continues its plan to trim the services,” he added. State committee member KP Saigal, State secretary KP Rajeesh, district secretary Satheesh and Nishad also were present.
Meanwhile, KSRTEA union members, affiliated to the CITU, has demanded that the government take stringent efforts to save the Corporation from the current crisis. Buses should be allowed to fill diesel from private pumps till a permanent solution is reached, the members stated.
Source: New Indian Express
