THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC MD Biju Prabhakar triggered another controversy by alleging that KSRTC’s money is being looted by its staff itself.
He alleged that some employees were swindling KSRTC’s money using fake ticket machines. “There are reports of irregularities committed while spare parts are bought for KSRTC workshops. Many employees oppose CNG buses as they want to make money by stealing and selling diesel from buses.
Biju Prabhakar reminded that the corporation is going through a serious financial crisis. “Even though no employee will be sacked, the strength of KSRTC employees will have to be reduced. The KSRTC had collected Rs 100 crore revenue during 2012-15 period but now that money is not to be found. Action will be taken against Sreekumar who was the Accounts manager at that time and now Sreekumar is the executive director. Action will also be taken against another executive director Sharaf. 22,000 staff will be laid off in the first phase and 15,000 and 10,000 employees will be laid off in subsequent phases.
Among the staff, 7,090 persons are looting money by selling old tickets to passengers. These are all part of the attempts to help long-distance service providers. In the next 3-5 years there will be a sea change in the KSRTC,” he stated. After Biju Prabhakar’s appointment as the head of KSRTC, this is the first time that he has come out with such a public outburst against KSRTC employees. “The corporation is in heavy debt. The decision to sell or lease out the land of KSRTC was taken to overcome the debt. Just because of that a new company will formed, KSRTC will not be severed from the transport department,” Biju Prabhakar said.
Many changes have been witnessed in KSRTC ever since Biju Prabjakar took over as the MD of the corporation. But his remarks have irked the employees across the State. They have started protest against him. INTUC members of KSRTC employees protested against Biju Prabhakar in front of Transport Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. INTUC also called for a state-wide protest on Monday.
