HE HELPED REDUCE ACCIDENTS

BENGALURU: A Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) officer, who managed to reduce the number of bus breakdowns , was suspended on his last day of service. Now, he is running from pillar to post to get a clean chit and also his post-retirement benefits.Three hours before his retirement on February 28, BC Ganganna Gowda, 60, who was BMTC’s chief mechanical engineer, received the ‘suspension pending inquiry’ order.Gowda, who served in various state road transport undertakings in Karnataka for about 35 years, reportedly had a clean track record. However, he is believed to have faced the wrath of his superiors after he allegedly refused to succumb to pressure from higher-ups in the matter of purchasing electric buses for BMTC, instead of taking them on lease. Former BMTC managing director V Ponnuraj was also transferred, reportedly because of the same reason.It was during Gowda’s period that BMTC recorded the least number of breakdowns in the recent past. Gowda, who served at various divisions of KSRTC, took charge as chief mechanical engineer of BMTC in 2017. Statistics show the number of breakdowns reported in BMTC reduced from 54,095 in 2015-16 to 52,750 in 2016-17 and 41,581 in 2017-18. This despite BMTC being forced to operate old buses due to a National Green Tribunal (NGT) stay that prevented the cash-strapped corporation from adding new diesel buses.While Gowda refused to comment on the issue, sources in the BMTC said he received the suspension order at 2pm on February 28, three hours before office hours end at 5pm.KSRTC managing director Shivayogi C Kalasad issued the suspension order, alleging that vehicles were held up at BMTC workshops, resulting in huge revenue loss to the corporation. It also alleged that the vehicles that had been already repaired were again found at the workshops. Gowda was earlier forced to go on leave from January 1 to February 27. Incidentally, the number of vehicles that were off roads and stationed at depots or workshops was only 330 in December 2018. This was lesser compared to earlier months —- September 2018 (938 buses), October (784) and November (605).Kalasad said they had issued ‘suspension pending inquiry’ order due to administrative reasons as per the KSRTC (Conduct & Discipline) Rules. “It is not mandatory to serve a show-cause notice before suspension order. But he could challenge the order in the disciplinary committee,” he added.H V Ananth Subbarao, general secretary of the KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation, said Gowda was one of the few honest officers with a clean track record. “The charges against him are flimsy. The message is loud and clear. Those who are not corrupt cannot survive in the corporation. Gowda has played a vital role in reducing the number of breakdowns.”On any given day, about 10% of 6,400 BMTC buses are off the road and will be at depots or workshops due to various reasons like breakdowns and maintenance work, FC renewal, accidents, etc. Gowda was instrumental in opening a new workshop at Dasanapura in Nelamangala , apart from the existing ones at Shantinagar and KR Puram, as well as introduction of two shifts (6am-2pm, Noon-8pm) for maintenance of buses. This also resulted in reduction of accidents during his tenure.