Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Aug 6: KSRTC has outsourced the recruitment of 350 drivers at a cost of Rs 10 crore to a private company. This is the first time the state bus transport organization is opting for the services of a private agency for recruitment.

KSRTC is facing shortage of drivers as many have left Mangaluru, Puttur and Chamarajanagar depots on transfer.

A senior officer of KSRTC said that this system is aimed at fulfilling the shortage of personnel in various departments. Successful bidding company will provide 150 drivers to Mangaluru, 100 to Puttur and 50 each to Ramanagara and Chamarajanagar.

KSRTC senior officer says that they do not get permission from government to recruit drivers. The present lot is not willing to work in areas like Mangaluru and Puttur. KSRTC needs at least 1,000 additional drivers and the management is expecting to fulfil this shortage through this tender.

This will also reduce the overheads of the organization. At present the corporation is paying a minimum salary of Rs 23,000 per driver for 25 days of attendance.

The drivers nominated by the private agency will not get any allowances. Many conditions will be imposed on such recruits to maintain safety, which includes fines for violation. In case of any kind of unruly behaviour and cheating by drivers, the supplying company will be held responsible.

The contract will be given to the bidder who seeks minimum commission. BMTC is already begun making a study to reduce the manpower by removing conductors on routes that are not busy and deputing them on some other routes.

H V Ananta Subba Rao of KSRTC staff and workers federation said, “This is a clear step towards privatization of KSRTC. This is a big blow to the idea of public transport. The work of a driver is very skilful and involves many dangers. How can we expect that they will work for just Rs 25,000? A private employee will never be committed like a KSRTC employee.”