The West Bengal transport department is planning to grant early retirement to more than 4,000 physically unfit employees across five transport corporations. A majority of these staffers have sought for voluntary retirement scheme (VRS). The transport corporations have a combined strength of over 25,000 people.

The units include Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), Calcutta Tramways Company Ltd (CTC), West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC), North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) and South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC).

According to the State transport minister, Mr Madan Mitra, ‘ineffective and physically unfit employees' should be removed from the transport corporations immediately in order to bring in efficiency in the State transport system.

For instance, more than 150 employees of CTC have asked for VRS and many more are waiting to join the league. “Of the total 6,500 employees, 150 have already wished to go for VRS as they are physically unfit. Apart from them, many other employees including elderly drivers need to be replaced due to their poor eyesight and other physical weaknesses,” Mr Shantilal Jain, chairman, CTC, told Business Line.

New recruits

To bring in fresh blood, the transport ministry has decided to recruit nearly 1,000 people in five corporations.

“SBSTC will have to recruit 100 people including conductors and drivers immediately to keep the services running. At least a total of 1,000 have to be appointed on contract basis for all the five corporations by October (before Puja),” Mr Mitra said.

According to him, an expert committee would be set up soon to work out plans for the contractual appointment of new staff for the transport corporations.

The State government is hopeful to see a turnaround in State transport by October. Revenue collection by the State transport corporations has reportedly increased during the last six months.

>ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

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