Kochi: The indefinite strike called by the private bus owners seem to have provided a windfall for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). On the second day of strike on Saturday, the corporation achieved a record daily revenue collection of ' 7.85 crore while operating over 250 additional services. "The daily collection on February 17 stood at Rs 7,85,23,439 and 256 additional services were conducted. On February 16, the daily collection stood at 7,22,20,782, with additional 219 buses plying on the first day of the strike. Before the strike, the average daily collection stood at Rs 6 crore," said a senior KSRTC official.
Even when the cash-strapped corporation is finding it difficult to disburse monthly salary and pension, many employees volunteered to forsake approved leaves and help the Corporation operate maximum number of buses.
KSRTC has a total of 6,339 buses, including spares. The management has directed for immediate repair of buses in garage and get them ready for operation to meet the increased demand on account of the strike. Though commuters in rural areas were affected by the strike, the additional bus service came to the help of commuters on main and city routes. KSRTC chief traffic manager had issued a memorandum to all unit officers to operate additional buses in routes serviced by private buses.
