Kochi: The daily revenue collection of the KSRTC has been consistently crossing the Rs 7-crore mark during the last week despite an average 850 services being cancelled due to shortage of conductors.
“A total of 1,438 candidates from the PSC list were given appointment orders so far, out of whom 1,250 joined service. However, the training process is underway and they are yet to be deployed in buses. As a result, an average 850 services are cancelled daily due to staff shortage after the mass retrenchment of empanelled conductors as per the court direction,” a senior KSRTC official said.
While the heavy rush on account of Christmas season can be attributed as a reason, the record collection figures (Rs 7.67 crore on December 22) show that the staff shortage did not affect its earning.
“The daily revenue showed an increase despite 1,000 services not being operated (on certain days). This shows that there is a need for revamp of the KSRTC. It’s not the employees’ number but better route planning that is important,” said Mr Tomin Thachankary, KSRTC managing director.
While the daily collection on December 8 was Rs 6.99 core, the same on December 15 was 6.69 crore and December 22 Rs 7.67 core.
The collection on December 21 was Rs 7.07 crore, December 22 Rs 7.66 crore, December 23 Rs 7.40 crore and December 24 Rs 7.32 crore. This, as against the Rs 6.50-crore average daily collection recorded during the last Christmas season (2017).
Meanwhile, sources poin-ted out that the majority of services being cancelled are ordinary ones, forcing daily commuters to depend on fast passenger and superclass services.
“The short distance daily commuters are forced to travel on fast and higher class services by giving higher charges. This indirectly reflects in the gross daily collection of the corporation,” an official said.
