Tamil Nadu transport corporations to begin recruitment drive

COIMBATORE: Recruitment of drivers and conductors for transport corporations would begin in the next few months, said Tamil Nadu transport minister S S Sivasankar on Friday.

Sivasankar said chief minister M K Stalin had issued orders for the recruitment drive in State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) and the Kumbakonam division of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC). After that, recruitment will begin in other corporations. The transport corporations had not carried out recruitment drives for five years during the AIADMK rule, he said.

The minister inaugurated a GPS-based bus stop announcement system on 65 town buses in Coimbatore on Friday. He inaugurated airconditioned retiring rooms for TNSTC employees in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode. He also distributed Rs 145.58 crore monetary benefits to 518 retired employees and kin of deceased employees

When asked about regulation of bike taxis in Tamil Nadu, he said the guidance from the Union government is required in some cases. Bike is meant for private usage. It has not been recognized as a commercial vehicle. “As far as the Tamil Nadu government is concerned, bike taxis should not be operated. Police were taking action against bike taxis,” he said.

He said the state government funds had been allocated to purchase 2,000 buses. The process of purchasing new buses was under way at present. In addition to them, 2,400 buses would be purchased with the help of a German agency fund. Tenders will be floated in the coming days. New buses will be procured in the next four to six months.

Automated ticketing machines would come into use in Chennai on a pilot basis. After the successful implementation, it would be expanded to other areas, he said.

Pensioners from transport corporations have been demanding an increase in dearness allowance for a long time. “The chief minister has been fulfilling all his poll promises despite financial constraints and the Covid-19 impact. Similarly, the demand will also be fulfilled soon,” he said.

Electricity minister Senthil Balaji, mayor Kalpana Anandakumar and collector Kranti Kumar Pati were present.