Thiruvananthapuram: The inauguration of KSRTC Swift, a new company formed for long distance services, will take place on the 11th of this month. Opposition trade unions will boycott the event. The transfer of the KSRT route and the bus purchased with government sanctioned funds to the new company cannot be accepted. The unions said they would go ahead with the legal battle.
The official inauguration of the KSRTC Swift took place on the day of the announcement of the last Assembly elections. But the start of the service was delayed as opposition trade unions filed a case in the high court. Recruitment of contract staff and registration of 99 out of 116 buses purchased using Government Plan outlay has already been completed. The High Court has held that there is no impediment to the commencement of Swift service and that the institution will proceed further subject to the final judgment in the case. It is in this context that KSRTC is preparing to launch the Swift service.
The Chief Minister will flag off the maiden service next Monday. However, the opposition trade unions said that the transfer of KSRTC route and new buses to KSRTC Swift was illegal and that legal action would be taken. The INTUC-sponsored TDF and BMS’s Employees’ Group are filing a case against KSRTC Swift in the High Court.
The government has decided to go ahead with K Swift despite opposition from trade unions. The 99 new buses include eight AC sleeper buses and 20 semi-sleeper buses. The first service is to Bangalore. Along with this, services to major cities inside and outside Kerala will also be launched. The online reservation system will be available soon.
