Smooth driving' to save KSRTC Rs 41 crore a year

Kochi: The KSRTC management is set to address a major complaint of passengers-- the rough driving by its crew. However, rather than a disciplinary action, it is part of the efforts to cut operational expenses by increasing mileage. The RTC aims to save Rs 41 crore a year through the initiative.

“Now, each driver will have to attain a minimum mileage of 4.3 km per litre. Those failing will be subjected to counselling in their respective depots when they will be briefed about ‘smooth driving’ practices. They will also be trained by better performing counterparts,” said a senior RTC officer.

Counselling sessions for ‘bad drivers’ will be held once a week in every depot while the good drivers will be honoured.

Also the drivers will be allotted specific buses instead of shuffling them across many.

The target of 4.3 km per litre is for the next three months (till May) with the management aiming to achieve five km by next year. Presently, the average mileage achieved is only 4.12 km.

“The initiative is part of cost-cutting exercise. Upon achieving an average 4.3 km mileage, '40.84 crore can be saved towards diesel expense a year,” the official said.

Currently, the RTC requires 4.10 lakh litres to operate its fleet of nearly 5,000 buses per day which would cost it Rs 2.8 crore daily. This, even as the average revenue collection in February was only Rs 6 crore, a reduction of nearly Rs 1 crore.

In the wake of revenue fall, the management has given an increased target of up to 20 per cent to all its depots.

“We have started achieving revised targets. On March 5, as against a target of Rs 14.35 lakh, the revenue collection of Ernakulam depot touched Rs 14.62 lakh,” the official said.