Employees of seven State transport corporations would enjoy benefits on a par with government employees.
The government would strive to fulfil all their needs, according to Deputy Chief Minister M.K.Stalin.
He said this while responding to demands of various unions of the employees that the personnel should be made government employees. Mr. Stalin said that they were not eligible to become government employees as the transport corporations were registered under the Companies Act.
Mr. Stalin was addressing a function organised by the Transport Department in which he inaugurated 297 new buses for the state transport corporations. He also gave away consolidated pension amount worth Rs.115 crore to 6,000 former employees of the transport corporation.
The payment of pension amount had been due for last four years. He also handed over appointment orders, issued on compassionate grounds, to 460 heir of transport corporation employees. Also, 230 staff of transport corporations and transport department were given promotions.
Senior officials of Metropolitan Transport Corporation said 200 of the new buses were for Chennai and they include 10 air-conditioned Volvo buses.
The rest were low-floor buses, as replacements for the old buses.
Transport Minister K.N. Nehru highlighted that in the past three years, 12,000 new buses had been inducted into the transport corporations.
“During the inauguration of the statue of Sarvajna in Chennai, even Karnataka Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa praised the government transport corporation. He saw our services at the Koyambedu bus terminus and was very impressed,” he said.
Mr. Nehru said that despite the hike in price of diesel, the government had not increased bus fare.
Karuthiah Pandian, joint secretary, Home Department, said the government had also addressed the issue of lack of sufficient Motor Vehicle Inspectors in the Transport Department, by appointing 45 new officers. Health Minister M.R.K.Panneerselvam and Fisheries Minister K.P.P.Samy participated.
