KDMT to hire more drivers, conductors

The municipal transport said that it will increase its manpower by September.

The KDMT will hire private agency on contract basis which will provide drivers and conductors. The department has already published an advertisement and is waiting for private agencies to apply.

The tender procedure for hiring contractors will be completed by July after which the civic transport will start playing its 60 new buses from September.

“As per the state government orders, we have floated the tenders for hiring a private agency to provide drivers and conductors. The private contractor will also look after the maintenance and repair of the buses,” said a KDMT official.

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Transport (KDMT) had plans to improve its services and revenue after adding 60 new buses to its fleet last August. But, it has failed.

Out of the 60 buses, only 23 are plying. Although all the buses had been pressed into service, poor maintenance has grounded 22 buses. The KDMT has not been able to repair them.

The civic transport body is facing loss of Rs2 lakh every day.

Twenty-two new buses are damaged. The buses have broken windowpanes, defunct battery, damaged doors and tyres.

Fifteen buses were shifted to Ganesh Ghat depot in Kalyan (West) and are languishing without any repair. One of the major reasons for this is lack of manpower.

The KDMT has 570 employees — drivers, conductors, administration staff and workers at the depot. It needs 450 additional drivers and 450 conductors.

The official added: “Soon after the drivers and conductors are appointed, we will start plying all 60 buses from August. By September, our newly added buses will improve the service and income of the department.”