K-SWIFT will save ailing KSRTC, says MD Biju Prabhakar

Thiruvananthapuram: KSRTC Managing Director Biju Prabhakar said that the crisis faced by the Corporation can be overcome by K-SWIFT.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation will receive financial help only by forming SWIFT. It should function independently within KSRTC. The online clearance mechanism to be established with the commencement of the company will help long distance bus service. After 10 years SWIFT will be dissolved in KSRTC, he said.

Many buildings and hotels were constructed in association with various government departments on the non-performing assets of KSRTC for revenue. No employees will be expelled and the number of posts should be reduced. Once the buses change to CNG and LNG, the fuel price will decrease considerably, he said, adding the pay revision will be enforced likely by August.

"A minority section of the employees are trying to sabotage the system. They are not supported by the labour organisations. The disloyal people should be removed from within the system," Prabhakar further stated.

SWIFT

KSRTC SWIFT will be a new company formed for long distance services. It will function for the purposes of new buses that will be bought with Rs 359 crore allotted from KIIFB. 310 CNG buses, 100 diesel buses and 50 electric buses will be bought. 190 KURTC buses and 237 more buses including KSRTC Scania Volvo will be allotted under SWIFT.

If a SWIFT bus is involved in accident due to driver's carelessness, compensation will be charged from him/her. Those who frequently involve in such mishaps will be removed from service. Each employee will have to sign a contract with SWIFT. The terms and conditions in SWIFT will be different from KSRTC.

There will be two drivers and a conductor in long distance services. The double duty system will be dropped. A reasonable salary can be expected. The employees should behave properly to the passengers. Water bottles and blankets will be distributed. Bus will be kept clean always, he further added.

The MD also stated that the error in duty system was the setback in KSRTC when competing with private sector. With SWIFT this can be overcome. The KSRTC bus route and other facilities will be made use in SWIFT which would be paid aptly, he added.