Loss-making NWKRTC seeks sops

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hubli/Loss-making-NWKRTC-seeks-sops/articleshow/4548751.cms

HUBLI: In a bid to revive the loss-making North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), the public sector unit will write to the state government seeking road tax exemption, said Mallikarjun Sahukar after taking charge as the new chairman of NWKRTC on Monday. He said every year, the corporation is paying road tax to the tune of Rs 50 crore. "If this is exempted, the saved amount could be diverted to other aspects to strengthen the organization.

It has suffered a loss of Rs 264 crore in the last six years," he added. In spite of NWKRTC suffering losses, no bus route will be cancelled, he clarified. "Service to the people is more important for us and not profit," he said when asked about the recommendations to cancel routes that earn no profit. He said that he needs some time to fully know the organization's functioning and to draw measures for its revival. "Emphasis will be given to safe journey of passengers, hygiene and clean drinking water in bus stations," he added. 600 new buses Sahukar said for 2009-10, the NWKRTC has drawn an action plan to add 600 more buses at a cost of Rs 95.20 crore to its fleet.

The action plan also intends to introduce 250 new bus routes, taking the total to 4750 by 2009-end. NWKRTC aims for a profit of Rs 40.38 crore in this fiscal year. CBT to go the Swiss way Sahukar said the City Bus Terminal (CBT) in Hubli would be developed on Swiss model on build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis at a cost of Rs 8 crore. The Old Bus Stand in Hubli and the one in Belgaum would also be upgraded with commercial complexes and modern facilities at Rs 40 crore each on PPP basis. Student bus passes Sahukar said the students can get concessional bus passes in their respective schools from this year.

This will help students get passes easily, who otherwise would have to wait in queues at bus stops. Action against private buses The new NWKRTC chairman said that he needs at least three months to take action against private buses for picking up passengers from near Old Bus Stand here. "I need to discuss with the RTO and the police before proceeding in this regard," he said, when reminded about the rule that no private buses should be allowed to pick up passengers near KSRTC bus terminals.

18,000 To Be Recruited This Fiscal @ KSRTC Belgaum Hubli

Mangalore: A driver or conductor’s job at Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is literally a phone call away. The only requirement is that the applicant should adhere to the qualifications laid down by KSRTC like should valid licence and experience. The state-owned transport operator, which is facing a huge shortage of crew, has drawn up plans to recruit 18,000 drivers/conductors in the current fiscal.

Transport minister R Ashok told The Times of India that the corporation will complete recruitments by the end of March 2009. “I have instructed my officials to expedite the process. Anybody who has the prescribed qualification can call up the local KSRTC office and stake a claim for appointment,” he said. The normal process of recruitment will take its own course of time, Ashok said in defence of the new idea.

When asked whether the corporation was willing to absorb the employees who would be rendered jobless if it started operations on non-nationalized routes such as in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, Ashok replied in the negative. Applicants must meet the recruitment norms laid down by the corporation, Ashok maintained. “We do not want to put passenger safety in peril and hence this strict adherence to recruitment norms,” he pointed out.

A person applying for the post of driver should have completed SSLC and have a heavy passenger/transport driving licence.

Conductors should have passed their PUC and also have a conductors’ licence. Likewise, an applicant for the post of driver-cum-conductor should have both the driver and conductors’ licences and passed SSLC.

Karnataka Transport corpns to recruit 18,000 personnel

Bangalore, Nov 4 The four state owned Transport Corportions in Karnataka would recruit 18,000 personnel including drivers, conductors and technical staff this year, Karnataka Minister for Transport R Ashok said today.

Directions have been issued to all the corporations to commence the process of recruitment, he told the press here.

The minister said the entire process would be transparent and in accordance with the rules.

The government has decided to establish driving training schools in Hassan, Hubli and Gulbarga and the work on a similar school in Bangalore was on.

Ashok reiterated that the government was firm on banning plying of private buses on nationanalised routes.(Agencies)