THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The reforms in KSRTC are being done for the whole corporation and not for any particular wing, said Transport Minister A K Saseendran. He was inaugurating the functioning of the KSRTC’s Thiruvananthapuram Zone here on Wednesday. The state government has reduced the existing five zones of KSRTC to three as per the Sushil Khanna report to strengthen operations.
The Transport Minister also declared the other two zones- Kochi and Kozhikode- open. The control of the three zones will be given to the zonal officers along with autonomy as per the report.
“It has been one month since the report was submitted to the government. After continuous complaints from the management regarding no action being taken up, the government decided to move forward with the initiative. There will always be someone to oppose the government decision but that cannot be a reason for not introducing new reforms,” said Saseendran in response to the allegations raised by the KSRTC trade unions during their convention meeting.
“Three profit-making zones of KSRTC based on the Sushil Khanna report are being launched here. The corporation has decided to move forward according to the Sushil Khanna report. The success will be our response to those who are opposing our decision,” said KSRTC CMD Tomin J Thachankary.
The Executive Directors of KSRTC will take charge as the zonal officers till the new general managers of the zonal offices are appointed. The temporary zonal officers are G Anil Kumar (south), M T Sukumaran (central) and C V Rajendran (north). All District Transport Officers (DTO) have been assigned to assist the zonal officers as the zonal traffic officer.
“To plan new schedules, we have to conduct a lot of studies along with our colleagues. Now our work and responsibilities have increased and it would be a tough task to be carried on,” said G Anil Kumar, South Zone officer. KSRTC BMS trade union employees protested during the inaugural ceremony, saying the decision to establish three zones will rid KSRTC employees of job opportunities.
Autonomy powers
The zonal officers can transfer employees on work arrangement, initiate disciplinary action and review confidential report. They will be responsible for vehicle and fleet utilisation, earning per km, break down and accident rates. Meeting revenue targets, coordination of activities of depots, powers regarding local purchase of `5,000 per day subject to a maximum of `50,000 per month have been sanctioned to them. They have been given powers to undertake civil works of `50,000 at a time subject to a maximum of `5 lakh a year.