PANJIM: Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTC) has suspended services of 24 buses to Maharashtra as a result of a strike called by several Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees demanding higher wages. KTCL will suffer a loss of Rs 3.5 lakh per day as result of the suspension.
KTCL operates 34 buses to Mumbai, Solapur, Shirdi Pune, Vengurla, Sawantwadi, Malvan, Vijaydurgh, Mirit, Sanghli and Kholapur. Of these, ten buses, plying at night to Mumbai, Solapur, Shirdi and Pune will continue the service.
Speaking to Herald, KTCL general manager Sanjay Ghate said the suspension of services is for safety. “We cannot take the risk. All the buses plying along the Maharashtra route are new buses and we cannot afford any damage to the vehicle,” he said.
Ghate informed that there was no pre-booking for the buses, whose services are suspended. “The ten buses, which operate at night, will continue their service. They have pre-booking,” he said adding that they have to ensure safety of our passengers.
Ghate said that non-operation of buses will result in a revenue loss of around Rs 3.5 lakh per day.
As per media reports, the strike called by MSRTC employees is illegal as no strike notice was served to the government. The Corporation had already announced an 18 percent bus fare increase citing higher fuel prices and an increased wage bill for its staff.
