Pushing drivers to do more proves detrimental

Pressure is mounting on bus drivers in the Road Transport Corporation to work on their daily targets in terms of passengers, kilometres and fuel saving.

Representatives of drivers’ unions say drivers are frustrated at these targets. They also say drivers are not given leave due to lack of staff and are made to work double shifts. Road safety experts say all these pressures are being put on drivers to get more revenue.

Sources reveal that for quite a few years, a new system of display boards has been introduced wherein the names of employees who achieve more Earn Per Kilometre (EPK) and less EPK are displayed.

“Officers try degrading the self-respect of drivers by displaying the names of drivers who earn low EPK on the depot board,” says N. Krishna, Greater Hyderabad Drivers union zonal president, Hakim depot. “Even if tyres are damaged they will be displayed outside the office, besides taking a fine from us in the name of Management of Revenue. This is psychologically distressing to us,” a driver said.

According to sources, there has been no recruitment of new drivers since 2012, though around 15 drivers are retiring on an average in a month.

RTC employees have received some sympathy from netizens. Mallik Yandamuri tweeted, “Earning per kilometre, 16 hours duty, No staff recruitment from five years, and a notice board in front of every depot with names of low EPK (Earning per Kilometre) just like criminal noticeboard. All these took 60 lives.”

RTC executive director Vinod Kumar says staff should not be demoralised as targets were set to change the mindset and improve the skills of the drivers, and over the years this has given results. “It’s more like a progress report to encourage them by giving them a position in a friendly atmosphere. We educate them by giving refresher courses,” he added.

Vinod Kumar, chief functionary, Indian Federation of Road Safety, says public transport should focus on providing services to the public rather than thinking about profit making by pressurising the staff. “There are many pitfalls in our system,” he pointed out. “There is no proper signalling system and bus stops, which causes delays,” he added.