Hyderabad: With many of them retiring and the management appearing unwilling to recruit their replacements, the TSRTC is facing a sizable scarcity of drivers. About 2,200 of them retired last year, and quite a few of the in-service drivers have been taken off duty because of ill health.
To overcome the shortage, the corporation on Monday decided to ask crews to do additional duty and pay them Rs 2 per kilometre.
V.C. Sajjanar, vice-chairman and managing director of the RTC, said that the proposal of giving additional duty had been made by some field officers. The competent authority with the occurrence with the CM(F&A) had accorded approval for payment of Rs 2 per km, to the crew for operating additional trips after completing their scheduled duty, with immediate effect.
Asked about the proposal, Narayana, RTC driver posted at one of the city’s depots, said: “These scheme lures drivers to take up additional driving after completing their scheduled duty. After a point, we will get frustrated as we will miss our family. Besides, we will be exhausted physically.” He added that he was not against the proposal.
M. Nageswara Rao, former RTC board director, said, “The shortage of drivers is being very much felt, which is forcing drivers to perfume double duties. It not only strains the drivers but also affects his mental health and causes fatigue, which can result in dangerous situations. The driver may lose control on the steering wheel, which may cause accidents.”
He said that the corporation should come forward to recruit drivers.
