Kerala: KB Ganesh Kumar says- focus on bringing KSRTC back on track

Thiruvananthapuram: KB Ganesh Kumar succeeds Antony Raju as Transport Minister, expressing his desire to implement reforms in KSRTC at a faster pace. According to him, the next two and a half year tenure will be used to revive KSRTC and improve the credibility of the government. Expecting cooperation from employees and trade unions, Ganesh said he would try his best to pull KSRTC out of the crisis, even if it cannot be made profitable.

Earlier he had said that his priority would be to close the holes of corruption in KSRTC. He also envisioned a transportation policy that promoted more stage carriage bus services in rural areas. “I plan to operate more services in rural areas, be it KSRTC or private. I will discuss the plan with the Chief Minister. If he approves it will be a model for the country,” Ganesh said.

Ganesh has taken up a ministry that others consider challenging. Apart from managing the financial crisis that has hampered timely payment of salaries and pensions, the transport minister has to face questions from MLAs regarding the introduction of new buses and cuts in uneconomic services. Things are unlikely to be easy for Ganesh from the opposition UDF, who has been targeted for his alleged role in the solar scam. However, the minister said the opposition has been unfair. During Antony’s tenure, trade unions, including those affiliated with the LDF, came out against the government.