No one to drive Volvos

No one to drive Volvos
BENGALURU







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Bangalore Met ropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) may be augmenting its fleet with Volvos and other hi-tech buses, but there is a dearth of people to drive them.

BMTC is the first public sector transport undertaking in the country to introduce Volvo services for city operations. Shortage of manpower is not new to either KSRTC or BMTC as the recruitment process has hit bureaucratic hurdles several times. But the lack of interest among drivers employed with the transport undertakings to drive the Volvo buses, considered the flagship vehicle of the BMTC, has put the corporation in fix.

In 2006, BMTC had created history of sorts by introducing the first Volvo bus service between Majestic and Electronic City. Eventually, the Corporation expanded its fleet size and at present BMTC has more than 160 Volvo buses in its kitty. As driving a Volvo requires additional training, BMTC is finding it difficult to find drivers.

“BMTC follows stringent norms in selecting drivers for Volvo buses. Only those with a good track record over the years are considered for the job,” says BMTC technical director Hemaraj. He was speaking on the sidelines of a legal awareness programme conducted for the BMTC and KSRTC staff here on Sunday.

“Volvo drivers are given week-long training by the company itself. After that, a driver is entitled to an additional allowance of Rs 100 per day,” he said.