A tale of two transport corporations with different legacies

Ten major trade unions called for the strike demanding the settlement of retirement benefits and payment of operational deficit to the transport corporations. It is a well-known fact that old buses, lack of buses, irregularity and poor-quality seats are perennial problems faced by the Tamil Nadu State transport corporation (TNSTC).  

However, in the 70’s and early 80’s, the state public transport system was so good that other states would always envy Tamil Nadu for having the best transport system within the city and from city to districts and other States. The gradual deterioration has resulted in the workers deciding to go on strike. It is a pity that the retired staff of the transport corporation have not been given their due even after their retirement. They are not millionaires, they need pension and the lump sum that everybody expects after retiring. It is with this money that they repay the loans taken for their children’s education, marriage and to invest the same in a bid to get interest to supplement their income. 

Take a look at neighbouring Karnataka, KSRTC bagged the International Public Transport Award 2017 exactly when the TNSTC workers went on strike. 

This was given to the corporation for its innovative projects, organised city bus services at small and medium towns and cities.  The KSRTC is operating in 12 cit

ies with 564 schedules and 9,016 trips per day and is planning service in other cities. During the period between May 2013 and January 2017, KSRTC received 107 international and national recognitions for new initiatives and good practices. The KSRTC earned a profit of Rs 114.95 crore during 2015-16.  

While one state is not fulfilling its basic duty to provide good public transport system, another corporation in our own neighbourhood is making headlines for its achievements. Public transport system is very much needed for the growth and expansion of the city. More people using two and four wheelers is not a good indi

cator for the growth of the city.  New York, one of the most populated cities in the world, has more than 50 per cent of the population using public transport system.  

In Manhattan, the financial capital of America, 75 per cent uses various modes of public transportation. The air-pollution could be contained only by limiting the use of private vehicles. There are cities in the world where the mayors travel in public transport system. A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transport.