While you bite into that kaju barfi during Deepavali festivities, spare a thought for the 40,000-odd crew of the road transport corporations (RTCs) and an unknown number among private operators, who forego the fun to remain on duty to take you to your destinations.
Padmaraj, a driver with the Channapatna depot of the KSRTC, said he had become used to being away from home during festivals. On the one hand, he knows that the bus service is essential service, and on the other, the crew get paid double their salary for working on general holidays. “I join the family a day or two after the festival and celebrate it,” Mr. Padmaraj said.
For H.K. Vinay, a trainee driver attached to Karwar depot of the NWKRTC, the festival means giving his seniors a holiday. “I don’t dream of celebrating festivals with my family as my primary duty is to drive the vehicle,” Mr. Vinay, who is from Mandya district, said. Since he is a trainee, he was put on duty so that the senior crew could take an off, his colleague conductor Shabbir said.
During the Dasara season, on account of an unprecedented rush, the three RTCs deployed about 1,000 extra buses. As a majority of special services did not have enough passenger load for return trips, the crew had to stay back at the destinations for a couple of days before returning to their point of origin. Though not on the same scale, Deepavali has seen a similar situation.
Essential serviceKSRTC General Manager (Operations) K.S. Vishwanath said the crew had to work on general holidays to provide the essential service. They were given the option of either availing of a holiday or working on those days at the beginning of the year itself. Those who work get double pay, Mr. Vishwanath said.