KSRTEA to Hold Public Transport Protection Rally Today; Pinarayi Vijayan to Inaugurate

Thiruvananthapuram: The KSRTC Employees Association (CITU) will hold a public transport protection rally in the capital on Tuesday, demanding that the government protect the public transport sector and withdraw policies that are weakening KSRTC.

The rally will begin at 4 pm from Overbridge Junction in Thiruvananthapuram and conclude at E K Nayanar Park. Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the public meeting, state working president C K Harikrishnan said at a press conference.

The rally is being held ahead of the KSRTC Employees Association's general council scheduled for Wednesday. The state annual general council will be inaugurated at 10 am by CPI(M) state secretariat member V Sivankutty at Anathalavattam Anandan Nagar (Manjalikulam Shikshak Sadan).

The UDF government is pushing the transport sector towards privatisation. The Priyadarshini free travel scheme is expected to impose an annual financial burden of Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,200 crore, while only Rs 600 crore has been allocated in the budget. KSRTC's daily revenue fell sharply after the scheme was implemented.

Reportedly, steps were being taken to impose a liability of Rs 1,400 crore through foreign banks.

KSRTC is taking high-interest loans from the Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC) to pay salaries and pensions. Converting funds meant for pensions and ticket revenue into loans has resulted in losses of crores of rupees in the form of interest.

The lack of funds to purchase spare parts, resulting in the disruption of services, politically motivated mass transfers and arrears in employee benefits have thrown KSRTC's functioning into disarray.

State general secretary Honey Balachandran and treasurer P A Jojo called on all transport workers to join the people's movement to protect the public transport system.