KSRTC gears up for safer trips

Kochi: In a step aimed at ensuring safe operations, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to deploy driver-cum-conductors in all long-haul services having reservation facility. “The decision is to deploy such staff in all night services with over six hours of steering duty and the daytime services with running time of over eight-hours. A circular has been issued the other day to all depots asking drivers having conductor licenses to apply for the post,” a senior official said.

Currently, there are around 50 driver-cum-conductors mainly deployed in long haul services to Bengaluru. “Now we’ll deploy the personnel in all services meeting the steering hour criteria, including ‘Minnal’ class services. We aim to take another 100 personnel to the post of driver-cum-conductor and give them adequate training before deploying them.”

The corporation earlier formed the Service Rules for the new category of posts introduced as part of cost cutting efforts. It will also help in avoiding a single driver working for over eight hours at a stretch in the long haul buses. The new system will help the corporation save ‘seven manpower’ and a seat in long-haul services. At present, two drivers and a conductor are deployed on a single inter-state service bus including those operating in Thiruvananthapuram-Bengaluru route.

For a single trip in both directions, they are eligible for a pay equivalent to seven ‘duty assignments’. If both drivers obtain the conductor’s license, the Corporation will be able to save several hours of manpower and a seat on a single service.“They can take turns to be at the wheels on long trips which will allow both proper rest and avoid taking exhausting duty hours. The system, already implemented by respective corporations in other states, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, will improve safety and enhance efficiency,” the official said.