It's pre-monsoon cleaning time at KSRTC

Kochi: It stands as a classic example of what red-tapism can bring. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has begun “pre-monsoon” cleaning of drainages at its central depot here well after the peak rainy season is over.

What has resulted in the inordinate delay that defeated the very purpose of the work to prevent waterlogging is red-tapism.

“Though the authorities floated tender as early as May, they were first not happy with the response, especially the rates quoted. Then they re-tendered the work, and the whole process suffered a delay. Finally, we started cleaning drainages, which is progressing now,” said a senior KSRTC official.

The depot was witnessing the worst waterlogging at the peak of the monsoon rains this time around. Even KSRTC managing direct M.G. Rajamanickam himself has to bear the brunt when he conducted a surprise check on the depot on June 5.

“The top official discussed the issue with the official in charge then. The biggest problem was the stoppage of waste flow through the canal after it got blocked with wastes and plastic bottles. Even the station master’s room got water-logged this time,” the official said.

This comes even as a major Rs 2-crore project to construct a new swanky complex-cum-bus bay at Karikkamuri near the current depot here had overshot the deadline by almost two years.

“The stone-laying was on September 26, 2014, and the work scheduled to complete in June 2015. But nothing happened other than the ground levelling so far,” the official said.