Kottayam: Many drivers and conductors of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will be seen in a dual role soon.
In a bid to cut down cost of operations and ease the burden on employees, the debt-ridden transport utility will introduce the driver-cum-conductor system on an experimental basis in its inter-state services.
The drivers operating inter-state multi-axil Volvo and Scania buses have been instructed by the KSRTC executive director to obtain the conductor’s licence before November 5.
By implementing the new system, the KSRTC will be able to save ‘seven manpower’ and a seat in long-route services.
The decision to introduce driver-cum-conductor posts was made at the CMD-level review meeting held on October 17. The order has been passed on to all the district transport offices, it is learnt.
At present, two drivers and a conductor are deployed on a single inter-state service bus including the one operating on the Thiruvananthapuram-Bengaluru route. For a single trip in both directions, they are eligible for a pay equivalent to seven ‘duty assignments’.
If both drivers obtain the conductor’s license, the KSRTC will be able to save several hours of manpower and a seat on a single service. They can take turns to be at the wheels on long trips which will allow one to take rest after long and exhausting duty hours. It will also improve safety and enhance efficiency, officials said.
The driver-cum-conductor system is there in many other states, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
