A lightning strike by the employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) yesterday, paralysed Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, for over five hours. And mind you, it happened when the Assembly was in session with the entire cabinet - including the Chief Minister, who's also the Home Minister and the transport minister, among others - was in attendance.
The transport minister, finally, intervened after the employees called off their strike! He has issued orders for strong action against the culprits. Similar orders in the past have not been executed till date and hence, the common man has lost faith in the organisation taking any corrective action!!
The cause.
The chaos began with an altercation between the crew of a private bus and the KSRTC staff over parking their bus for more than three minutes at the corporation's bus bay in East Fort. As KSRTC employees objected, the issue flared up and the police intervened. Assistant Transport Officer (City depot) Jacob Sam Lopez, Inspector Rajendran and Driver Suresh were taken into custody.
The aftermath.
Many KSRTC employees who were present in the depot rushed to the Fort Police Station after abandoning the buses in the middle of the road, demanding their release. The cascading effect caused traffic snarls leaving hapless passengers stranded in the streets under the hot sun.
A man, Surendran, all of 63 yrs, who had collapsed at the bus shelter in East Fort passed away despite attempts to revive him at the scene. The traffic snarl prevented the timely arrival of an ambulance!
Some harsh facts about the KSRTC, at this juncture, would be in order :-
(a) It's a perennially loss making organisation.
(b) Most of the drivers and the conductors behave rudely with the passengers, examples being :-
(i) The buses never stop at the earmarked stops making passengers to run after the vehicles,
for boarding.
(ii) Many of the conductors do not have change and harass the passengers when they ask them
for the balance.
(c) There are too many employees as against the number of buses. Compared to the national
average of 5.5, the KSRTC's is 5.92!
(d) There is a proliferation of employees' unions that is impervious to the well being of the
organisation.
My take.
This KSRTC can only thrive if the employees dump their militant trade unionism, become passenger oriented and have loyalty to the organisation. They must realise that they can only survive if the organisation is vibrant and healthy and is a profit-making organisation!
The Wednesday's incident is a bad mark for the organisation.
RIP Surendran! We have collectively let you down!! My tears and prayers and may your near and dear ones have the strength to tide over these stressful times!!!
Tailpiece.
Got up on the dot, went through the chores and were ready well in time. Had gone to town to buy grocery around 11. The heat is getting to be unbearable.
The transport minister, finally, intervened after the employees called off their strike! He has issued orders for strong action against the culprits. Similar orders in the past have not been executed till date and hence, the common man has lost faith in the organisation taking any corrective action!!
The cause.
The chaos began with an altercation between the crew of a private bus and the KSRTC staff over parking their bus for more than three minutes at the corporation's bus bay in East Fort. As KSRTC employees objected, the issue flared up and the police intervened. Assistant Transport Officer (City depot) Jacob Sam Lopez, Inspector Rajendran and Driver Suresh were taken into custody.
The aftermath.
Many KSRTC employees who were present in the depot rushed to the Fort Police Station after abandoning the buses in the middle of the road, demanding their release. The cascading effect caused traffic snarls leaving hapless passengers stranded in the streets under the hot sun.
A man, Surendran, all of 63 yrs, who had collapsed at the bus shelter in East Fort passed away despite attempts to revive him at the scene. The traffic snarl prevented the timely arrival of an ambulance!
Some harsh facts about the KSRTC, at this juncture, would be in order :-
(a) It's a perennially loss making organisation.
(b) Most of the drivers and the conductors behave rudely with the passengers, examples being :-
(i) The buses never stop at the earmarked stops making passengers to run after the vehicles,
for boarding.
(ii) Many of the conductors do not have change and harass the passengers when they ask them
for the balance.
(c) There are too many employees as against the number of buses. Compared to the national
average of 5.5, the KSRTC's is 5.92!
(d) There is a proliferation of employees' unions that is impervious to the well being of the
organisation.
My take.
This KSRTC can only thrive if the employees dump their militant trade unionism, become passenger oriented and have loyalty to the organisation. They must realise that they can only survive if the organisation is vibrant and healthy and is a profit-making organisation!
The Wednesday's incident is a bad mark for the organisation.
RIP Surendran! We have collectively let you down!! My tears and prayers and may your near and dear ones have the strength to tide over these stressful times!!!
Tailpiece.
Got up on the dot, went through the chores and were ready well in time. Had gone to town to buy grocery around 11. The heat is getting to be unbearable.
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