Fatigued inter-state KSRTC drivers threaten stir

Now the Kerala Transport Drivers Union (KTDU) has threatened to strike work if the management fails to take urgent measures in the wake of extended duty hours for drivers in inter-state services to Bangalore.

The Karnataka authorities on Saturday asked their Kerala counterparts not to park buses in the Satellite stand from November 1 and instead use the Peenya stand, which is 17 km away.

“To drop commuters at the city and then ride back to Peenya stand through the congested city will take an additional two hours time. Similarly, the drivers have to resume duty early so as to reach the Satellite station first and then return back,” said KTDU vice president K.G. Babu.

Unlike the Karnataka or Tamil Nadu buses, it is a single driver who now pilots the Ernakulam-Bangalore services and has to work for 14 hours at a stretch without rest. The neighbouring corporations have already deployed driver-cum-conductor posts in their inter-state night services.

“There is always the risk factor when a single driver stays awake all night and drives the vehicle for 14 hours. In the same service by the Karnataka corporation, it is the conductor who drives the 120-km Salem-Hosur stretch which gives the driver some rest. Also we have to return after just eight hours stay there,” said A.S. Boban, the KSRTC driver who was earlier suspended for “taking rest” during a Bangalore-Ernakulam trip which delayed the service.

“Though the management promised to look into the matter, no action is being taken for quite some time now. If they fail to implement Driver-cum Conductor posts within a month, we will launch an indefinite strike,” said Mr Babu.