Team Herald
PANJIM: The Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) is reeling under a shortage of drivers and conductors owing to retirements over the past few months, but with no free hand to fill in the vacancies, the Corporation is caught in a tight situation.
The reason is, State coffers are facing a financial crisis and as such, the government has directed the KTCL to submit a proposal instead.
The KTCL sources said that as many as 200 drivers and conductors have retired within half a year.
“There is a shortage of around 100 conductors and another about 100 drivers have retired. The government has asked us to put up a proposal for filling vacancies owing to the financial crunch. Actually, every Corporation’s assessment is carried out every financial year wherein the government allocates total staff strength. Accordingly, funds are also allocated. Since the government is going through a rough financial condition, it has asked us to submit a proposal. Only after its approval, the Corporation will start the recruitment process,” the sources said.
The drivers and conductors are thus forced to work overtime. A senior official said they are left with no choice but to ask their bus drivers and conductors to work double shifts, for which they are paid extra although Seventh Pay Commission does not cover this aspect.
“The buses are tagged to other points owing to staff shortage. The drivers and conductors refused compensatory off for every extra hour of duty. They demanded extra pay even though Seventh Pay Commission has no such provision, but we had to agree,” the official said wishing anonymity.
The KTCL, which is one of few loss-making Corporations in the State, has contractual and permanent employees. Those completing the contract period successfully are elevated to the wage board.
Meanwhile, out of around 496 buses plying on different routes for entire day-late nights, around 167 are roped in to ply students during the school hours. The duty reportedly starts at 5 am till 7.30 am after which these buses are back to transport their usual commuters to different designated places. The day’s last bus operates at 10.30 pm for a female passenger on a particular route, the official said.
