Driver shortage cripples BRTC

State run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation is facing an acute shortage of bus drivers.
BRTC is virtually limping in operating 1,066 buses in running condition with 1,091 drivers, 300 of whom are about 70-year olds, said officials.
Under the rules, said officials, BRTC should have surplus drivers at the ratio of 1.8: 1.
Planned procurement of 600 new buses and 500 trucks,  would intensify the crisis, said   BRTC officials.
At least 466 more buses of BRTC are not in running condition, said officials.
BRTC also has a fleet of 138 trucks.
Officials said that the posts of 1,226 drivers which is 40 per cent of 2,812 sanctioned posts were lying vacant.
The shortage of drivers together with the aged ones were a huge source of embarrassment for BRTC, said its chairman Md Mizanur Rahman.
BRTC finds it difficult to enforce discipline having to withdraw suspension orders on erring drivers, he said.
He said that the aged drivers were still in BRTC’s pay roll though they can provide no service other than as time keepers and cleaners.
He said that shortage of drivers often compelled BRTC to withdraw suspension orders though some of them were found violating the traffic rules of collecting excess fares.
BRTC rules require retiring a driver at the age of 60.
The BRTC was also carrying the burden of some of the drivers who had recorded their age as 18 thought they were between 27 and 30.
He said that BRTC would find it difficult to foot the salary bill from its earnings if it hired drivers to fill up the vacancies.
Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh president Ghulam Rahman said state run BRTC had to handle the issues facing it professionally as it was empowered to decisions.
BRTC has 382 conductors   against 1,011 sanctioned posts, said officials.

- See more at: http://newagebd.net/170902/driver-shortage-cripples-brtc/#sthash.6KnhRBkO.dpuf