Latest news with #KSRTC
The Hindu
27 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Over 500 personnel to be deployed in Aluva for ‘Karkidaka Vavu Bali'
The district administration and the Ernakulam Rural police have made extensive arrangements for the forthcoming 'Balitharpanam' (paying obeisance to ancestors) on the occasion of 'Karkidaka Vavu' on July 24. The Rural police will deploy around 500 police personnel in Aluva. A meeting to review the arrangements was chaired by District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) M. Hemalatha at Aluva on Saturday. More cops will be deployed along the bus stand, railway station and metro stations. More patrol teams will be deployed, and the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force will be roped in to curb drug sales and consumption. Plainclothesmen will be stationed to preempt thefts. A control room will be set up at Aluva Manappuram and will function round the clock. Traffic regulations will be enforced to prevent congestion, while CCTV cameras will be installed at strategic locations. The district administration is in the process of making elaborate arrangements at Aluva Manappuram, Perumbavoor Chelamattam Sree Krishna Temple, and along the banks of the Periyar in Kalady, taking into account the incessant rain. A review meeting attended by Anwar Sadath, MLA, and Additional District Magistrate Vinod Raj was held on Saturday. Arrangements will be made to offer 'bali' at Aluva Adwaithasramam from the morning. The offering of bali at the Perumbavoor Chelamattam Sree Krishna Temple will begin at 1 a.m. and continue till the afternoon. Special KSRTC services will be operated from the Angamaly and Perumbavoor depots. The Irrigation department will monitor the water level in the Periyar at frequent intervals and take necessary precautions. The District Medical Officer has been directed to deploy staff and ambulance services to handle emergencies. Fire and Rescue Services personnel will be deployed to avert accidents. The KSEB has been directed to arrange temporary power supply and ensure the presence of additional staff. Steps have been taken to ensure drinking water availability in the area, and the Food Safety department will monitor the quality of food and beverages sold in nearby shops. The Fort Kochi Sub-Collector and the Muvattupuzha Revenue Divisional Officer have been assigned to oversee the arrangements.
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
ESMA invoked, Karnataka bans transport strike until Dec 31
BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has invoked the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), 2013, to prohibit strikes by employees of the state's four road transport corporations from July 1 to December 31. The order comes at a time when the Joint Action Committee of the KSRTC has announced an indefinite strike from August 5, if their demands are not met. The fresh order follows an earlier notification dated December 21, 2024, which had banned strikes from January 1 to June 30, 2025. The new extension now prohibits any form of strike in the state transport corporations for another six months, up to December 31. The order effectively blocks any industrial action or work stoppage by transport employees during the protest. Indefinite hunger strike The Federation of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations has announced an indefinite hunger protest from July 29, at Freedom Park in Bengaluru and in front of DCs officer in all districts in the state. The protest is being organised to demand the fulfilment of demands that include implementation of equal pay under the 7th Pay Commission from January 1, 2024, payment of 38 months' arrears from January 1, 2020, announcement of labour union elections, and withdrawal of cases filed against employees and their families during the 2020 and 2021 strikes.
Hans India
14 hours ago
- Hans India
Union Minister Karandlaje walks up the steps for Ashada Friday darshan
Mysuru: Devotion and tradition took centrestage on Chamundi Hill on Friday as Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje joined thousands of devotees for the auspicious fourth Ashada Friday rituals, offering prayers to the presiding deity Chamundeshwari Devi with customary reverence. Following her yearly tradition, Minister Karandlaje ascended the sacred steps leading to the temple atop Chamundi Hill early this morning. Despite her hectic ministerial duties, she ensured that she reached Mysuru to take part in this significant ritual, a testament to her deep faith in the goddess revered as the guardian deity of the region. She climbed the steps along with other devotees and offered a special puja, seeking blessings for the well-being of the state and its people. On this final Ashada Friday, the Chamundeshwari temple, perched atop the misty hills of Mysuru, was transformed into a vibrant hub of spiritual energy and devotional fervor. As per tradition, the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari was adorned in the grand 'Simhavahini' alankara, symbolising the deity riding a lion—a powerful representation of courage and protection. The utsava murti (processional idol) was decorated with exquisite flowers and strings of peacock feathers, enhancing the sanctity and grandeur of the occasion. Temple authorities made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of rituals, which began as early as 4:30 am with special pujas and homas performed by the temple priests. As the morning progressed, long queues of devotees, some climbing the steep steps barefoot, slowly wound their way to the sanctum to catch a glimpse of the goddess and offer their prayers. In anticipation of the massive crowd, the district administration imposed a ban on private vehicles to Chamundi Hill today. KSRTC arranged special shuttle services from the foothills to the temple entrance to ensure hassle-free darshan for devotees. Volunteers and police personnel were deployed in large numbers to manage the crowd and maintain order, ensuring the pilgrimage remained peaceful and spiritually fulfilling. The Ashadha month is considered highly sacred in Karnataka, with all Fridays during this period dedicated to special prayers and offerings to Goddess Chamundeshwari. Many devotees, irrespective of age, undertake the arduous climb up the 1,000-plus steps, believing it to be an act of penance and devotion that brings them the goddess's blessings.
New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Boat travel goes digital: Online booking and GPS tracking soon
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Taking a boat trip on the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) services is about to become much easier. The department is preparing for a major digital upgrade that will allow passengers to plan trips, book seats, and make payments online – just like on KSRTC buses. As part of the plan, SWTD will adopt a customised mobile ticketing app and introduce Android-based Electronic Ticket Vending Machines (ETVMs) that support GPS tracking. These upgrades aim to make travel simpler, especially for those unfamiliar with the region's geography. Unlike KSRTC, SWTD faces difficulty in setting up information counters in the remote locations. In Kuttanad region alone there are 450 boat jetties and SWTD is the lone operator. 'The new system will help passengers get info about available trips, timings, and fares from any jetty. We are even planning to include location maps to help people reach the jetties,' said Shaji V Nair, Director, State Water Transport Department. Currently, SWTD operates 100 boats and runs around 750 trips daily across Alappuzha, Kottayam, Kollam, Ernakulam, Kannur, and Kasaragod. The digital facilities are expected to boost the demand as SWTD plans more budget tourism services. In the first phase, tourists will be able to select seats in advance. Passenger boats will get this feature in later phases, after necessary system updates. Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar is leading the department's digital transformation, responding to long-standing demands for boat tracking and digital ticketing. The facilities would cater to 150 lakh commuters who use the boat services annually, along with the growing number of tourists exploring the backwaters. The government would be spending close to Rs 2.7 crore for developing the mobile application and for purchasing ETVMs. SWTD has already received approval for integrating a payment gateway with its treasury accounts. Once implemented, the system will generate valuable data, helping the department to plan better routes, cut down operational costs, and identify areas with tourism potential. Officials also hope to introduce travel cards in the future, similar to those used in KSRTC services. KSRTC has recently introduced the facility tracking app and travel cards.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Karnataka government invokes Essential Services Maintenance Act, prohibits strike by transport staff
Bengaluru: In the wake of the joint action committee of Karnataka Road Transport Corporations Employees' Association calling for an indefinite strike with effect from Aug 5, the govt Thursday issued a notification exercising powers conferred under the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), 2013, prohibiting a strike by employees of all four road transport corporations in the state. The notification states that employees (of KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC) shouldn't participate in the strike as their services are considered essential. It also mentions that considering public interest and public order, the provisions of ESMA have been exercised. The prohibition is in effect till Dec 31, 2025. The joint action committee, calling for the strike, is demanding the clearance of 38 months of arrears related to the previous salary revision, the implementation of a new wage revision effective from Jan 1, 2024, and the withdrawal of legal cases filed against employees, among other issues. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Meanwhile, another body of the unions of RTCs — Karnataka Rajya Raste Sarige Nalku Corporations Unions — said it would observe a hunger strike from July 29 at Freedom Park and the district headquarters, demanding the fulfilment of its demands. This employees' body has sought, among other things, salary for corporation employees on a par with the Seventh Pay Commission with effect from Jan 1, 2024, the clearance of arrears, and the holding of elections to unions.
