Homesick BMTC drivers eye NEKRTC, NWKRTC

Nearly 700 drivers of the BMTC are all set to join the other two State-run transport corporations and to make up for the loss, BMTC has decided to recruit double the number. BMTC is recruiting 1,500 drivers and it has already received over 9,000 applications.

BMTC officials say that more than half its drivers are from outside Bengaluru and it has become a trend of sorts for drivers to leave BMTC and join Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) or North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) or North West Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), whenever they announce recruitments.

In some cases, drivers from far off districts in KSRTC too quit their jobs in the city to go closer home.

Long working hours

Drivers say that they have long working hours in Bengaluru and so they are not able to live with their families. The cost of living in the city is also high. This drives many of them to opt for native towns.

Ekroop Caur, BMTC MD, told Deccan Herald, “We had advertised for recruiting 1,500 drivers, for which we received over 9,000 applications and the recruitment process has started. About 700 drivers who were working with us are moving to NEKRTC and NWKRTC,” she said.

Officials said that even though there was no shortage of drivers as such and the recruitment process would take care of the present vacancies, the corporation may hire
drivers on contract if the need arises.

Certain other STUs (state transport undertakings) have started hiring drivers, and even buses, on contract basis, sharing the profits.

BMTC officials said that since the corporation has its own enviable fleet, hiring buses on contract may not happen in the near future.

As per an estimate, till last year, both BMTC and KSRTC had close to 8,200 vacant positions together in various departments, including 1,365 staff positions. The KSRTC had a total of 2,100 vacancies.