Putting an end to the long-standing tussle between the crew of its luxury buses and police officers, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has permitted free travel to police officers who accompany accused persons in the buses operating under the Kerala Urban Transport Corporation.
A recent order issued by the Executive Director, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, stipulates the extension of bus warrants system to all buses, including the newly rolled out luxury, air-conditioned buses. The step is in line with the Kerala Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, the order says.
Till now, police officers were permitted to board only up to Fast Passenger buses using these warrants. In fact, the KSRTC permitted only members of the Assembly and Parliament to travel without ticket in its luxury buses.
“The move is being initiated in view of the conflicts between bus employees and police officers. However, there will be restrictions on the class of travel the policemen can opt for, depending on their ranks,” said Antony Chacko, Chairman and Managing Director, KSRTC. For instance, an officer ranked no less than a sub-inspector should accompany the accused to get the concession in Super Class buses.
Meanwhile, official sources said the corporation was blowing the one-off clashes between the employees and the police out of proportion. They said the move would add to the KSRTC’s mounting losses. “The corporation is yet to receive Rs.8 crore from the police. The extension of this scheme to our luxury buses will spell more trouble to this crisis-hit institution,” said a top KSRTC official.
To get the benefit, police officers accompanying the accused are permitted to furnish the original copy of the document to the bus conductor.
The documents, collected from all parts of the State, will be collated every month at the corporation’s headquarters and used for reimbursement of the ticket charges from the Police Department.
Based on personnel’s rank, there will be restrictions
Facility is now available only up to Fast Passenger
So far, police officers were permitted to board only up to Fast Passenger buses using warrants.
