The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Monday felicitated 21 drivers for accident-free driving during the last five years.
They were presented with silver medals and cash prizes of Rs 2,000 each by Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.
The drivers fulfilled the condition of having attended work for an average of 240 days a year other than accident-free clause. The awards were given for years 2011 and 2012.
The names for 2013 awards will be decided soon, an official said. There will be additional monthly allowance of Rs 50 for each of these drivers which would be suspended if they are involved in any accident.
Meanwhile, the KSRTC also unveiled a new facility — blanket washing plant, a first-of-its- kind for any road transport undertaking, which will drastically help in reducing the cost of getting blankets washed from outside agencies. Blankets are provided on board premium sector services KSRTC operates.
“We can recover the cost of installing the machine in nine months, saving nearly Rs 4.31 lakh per month,” KSRTC Managing Director N Manjunatha Prasad said. The washing plant will be operated by 24 members in three shifts and 7,200 blankets washed per day. The KSRTC expects to save Rs 3.64 lakh per month by washing blankets and further Rs 66,330 per month by washing curtains.
Published 17 February 2014, 19:50 IST