Thiruvananthapuram: The government on Saturday issued an order sanctioning Rs 3,000 crore to the KSRTC for its smooth operations. This coincided with the takeover of the transport ministry by Mr Thomas Chandy, who was sworn in as minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet by Governor P. Sathasivam earlier. Mr Chandy told reporters that the financial burden of the KSRTC would end if the state government took over the pension expenses fully. At present, the government was providing 50 percent of the pension amount.
Mr Chandy said that he did not approve of the present decision of the KSTC to cancel the services in financially unviable routes. “KSRTC is a public utility service and has to ensure social responsibility,” Mr Chandy said. He said steps would be initiated to turn the KSRTC into a profit-making utility. “Mr Sushil Khanna has submitted a report for the same and I will study it. Hopefully, he would submit his final report soon,” he said. He promised to redress the issues resulting from the the motor vehicles department making gradient and reverse parking test mandatory for light motor vehicle driving licence from Monday.
