The cash-strapped Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is heading towards another crisis with Biju Prabhakar, the chairman and managing director of the public utility, announcing that he will step down.
The Corporation, with an operational fleet of around 4,600-4,700 buses, has often been in the midst of controversy as trade unions have repeatedly opposed its proposed reforms. This time, the public utility has grabbed headlines for a different reason. Repeated raps from the Kerala High Court along with inter-departmental feuds have forced Mr. Prabhakar to inform the government about his willingness to call it a day.
In the latest incident, while expressing strong displeasure over the non-payment of last month’s salary to KSRTC employees, the High Court on July 14 directed Mr. Prabhakar to appear online before it if salaries are not paid by July 20. The reluctance of the Finance Department to provide the assured monthly financial aid to the Corporation on time has made things worse. A section of employees owing allegiance to the Opposition Congress marched in protest to the official residence of Mr. Prabhakar.
