Date:14/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121453020400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

RTC staff get salary increase

Special Correspondent

This will cost State exchequer an additional Rs. 396 crore annually

The revised salary will benefit nearly one lakh employees
Reservation fee on tickets up to Rs. 200 cut to Rs. 5

BANGALORE: The salary of the employees of the four State-owned road transport corporations (RTC) has been increased by 6 per cent, with effect from April 1, 2008.

The decision will cost an additional Rs. 396 crore to the State exchequer, annually. The revised salary will benefit nearly one lakh employees of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation and North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation.

Speaking to presspersons, Minister for Transport R. Ashok said a board meeting of the corporations was held on Thursday, where the 6 per cent increase in salary was approved. Mr. Ashok, who chaired the meeting of the board, said the salary of trainee employees had increased from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,500 a month.

Trainee employees in Bangalore would get an additional Rs. 500 allowance. Newly recruited employees would undergo two years of training in all four corporations, he said.

Reservation fee

In another major decision that will benefit passengers, the reservation fee on ticket price up to Rs. 200 has been reduced from Rs. 15 to Rs. 5. The reservation fee on ticket price above Rs. 200 has been fixed at Rs. 10. The decision will be applicable to KSRTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC.

Package tours

In a move to attract tourists, KSRTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC have decided to offer package tours. The price of a four-day ticket in Karnataka Sarige bus has been fixed at Rs. 500, Rs. 600 in Sheetal bus and Rs. 700 in Rajahamsa bus. The decision was taken to reduce inconvenience to tourists who otherwise have to buy tickets during the course of travel, he said.

Probe

A 10-member team has been despatched to Hubli to find out the cause behind the financial loss that NWKRTC has been experiencing for the past few years. The team is to identify the reasons for the loss and recommend measures to turn the corporation into a profit-making unit. The team is to submit a detailed report in 10 days, he said.

Based on the report submitted by the team, action would be taken against persons responsible for the loss to the corporation, he said.