Tamil Nadu: SETC staff shortage for over 2 years takes toll on drivers

Chennai: As many as 1,800 posts of drivers and conductors are currently vacant in the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC), forcing the existing crew of 5,000 people to work for long hours on the road. According to sources of SETC, In all, 1,565 driver posts and 235 conductor posts are being awaited to be filled for over two years as the last recruitment was done in 2015. SETC staff rue that the department’s “extreme measures” to cut down costs due to bankruptcy and ageing fleets coupled with long hour shifts have taken a toll on them and also are the major reason for the alarming rise in the number of accidents.

“Initially, a break would be given after every four hours. However, the break interval rose to eight hours eventually and now due to the shortage of staff, we do not even get a single break for a 12-14 hour trip,” said K. Senthil, a driver. Also, most of the recruitments are done in such a way that both the conductor and the driver would take turns to drive while on a long trip. But, this would mean that both of them would get no rest at all—irrespective of whether they are driving or not.

E. Manikandan, CITU state secretary, State Express Transport Corporation said that a large number of technician posts too are yet to be filled and the reason for losses is an increase in privatisation and both the administration and government are at fault for not taking imperative steps to curb losses. Even those on short trips - like between Puducherry and Tiruvannamalai - end up driving 2-3 trips continuously due to staff shortage and each driver would have driven 21 hours in a stretch without a break by the end of the day. However, when contacted the officials said the lack of funds leaves no option for them for the betterment of the situation.