THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The pensioners of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation can feel greatly relieved as they will be receiving the pension arrears of two months before Onam.
Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan told a press conference here on Tuesday that the corporation is borrowing Rs 300 crore from the Palakkad District Cooperative Bank to immediately settle the pension arrears and to meet other urgent needs. “The arrears of two months, for which Rs 76 crore is needed, will be settled before Onam while the pension of August will be given before September 20. The other benefits such as festival allowance and the wages will also be given.
“Totally, an amount of
Rs 108 crore is needed. The state government had consented to give guarantee for loan for the purpose,’’ the minister said, after having discussions with trade union leaders. Travelling in KSRTC buses will become costlier especially for long-distance passengers as the KSRTC will impose insurance-cess from September as a means of earning additional income for the corporation.