ROURKELA: Mismanagement, manpower shortage, unsafe buses and cut-throat competition from private operators have pushed Rourkela unit of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) into crisis.
The OSRTC bus services to remote areas of the State from Rourkela have declined belying its vision to provide efficient, economical and quality transport.
Of nine long route buses of the Corporation, eight are functional and cover Jeypore, Nayagarh, Aska and Kiriburu. Services to Aska have been suspended as the Corporation suffered losses on the route.
Some time back, OSRTC bus services originating at Rourkela were covering about 18 long destinations. At least six of the existing nine buses have undergone major repairs and are unsafe for travel. Moreover, as OSRTC’s garage at Sector-2 lacks facilities, major repair works are undertaken at another garage. Majority of staff posts in OSRTC office, including District Transport Manager and Assistant Transport Manager, are vacant. Each of the routes has six drivers and three conductors, majority of them contractual, receiving a fixed monthly pay of `7,200 and `6,200 respectively.
An official of OSRTC said, three years ago only two Hi-Tech (2/2 pushback) buses were provided. None of the existing buses have air-condition facility and OSRTC buses are no match to their private counterparts. On the other hand, during the lean period private bus operators cut down fares but that of OSRTC is fixed, he said.
An OSRTC driver said, the Corporation has the ability to bounce back provided new buses are introduced along with better management and professionalism. They also need police protection against mischievous activities of private bus operators, he added.
Assistant Station Manager JK Pradhan said they are committed to provide better services with available resources and proposals were moved recently for introduction of bus services to Gaya (Bihar), Manoharpur (Jharkhand) and Kiriburu in Keonjhar district.
But, a few months ago seven intra-district buses were introduced for areas infested by Maoists and five are now plying to different remote destinations of Maoist-hit Bonai sub-division.