Jeypore unit of OSRTC closed temporarily

Bhubaneswar, Oct 6: Operation at Jeypore depot of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) has been suspended for time being and it will be resumed after some days. The depot has been temporarily closed since September 30 due to lack of business in Covid time and indiscipline of contractual employees. The corporation has made special arrangements to run buses from Rayagada and Malkangiri depots to ensure that people of Jeypore do not face any problem during the period. In a press statement Arun Bothra, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, OSRTC said, "We are committed to provide good bus service to the citizens of Jeypore. This temporary closure of depot will not affect common people in any way. OSRTC will run the buses in the region as usual. For time being bus operations will be managed from Rayagada and Malkangiri depots. Both depots are fully equipped to handle additional requirement of people of Jeypore. Convenience and comfort of the citizens is our top priority and we vi II make sure that bus service in this area continues as usual. If required, more buses and manpower will be deployed to Rayagada and Malkangiri depots for this purpose". Bothra said that the Corporation has been facing serious financial crisis due to Covid Pandemic. Operations are down because very few people are using buses. Despite this situation Corporation has been providing financial support to all its regular, contractual and daily wages employees. Since last three months, various training programmes have been organised so that the employees can be meaningfully engaged and can be given salaries. Recently there have been allegations of misappropriation of huge fund by the staff of Jeypore depot The OSRTC buses were engaged by the district administration for movement of guest workers during the lockdown period. It was alleged that a large amount of the money given to drivers by the District Collectors for fuel was misappropriated by them. In this connection an enquiry was conducted where the allegations were found to be true. OSRTC authorities had asked the defaulters to return the misappropriated money. However instead of returning the money a few of the employees created ruckus at the depot. The depot manager was physically assaulted. In this circumstances Jeypore PS case no. 0226/20 was registered, on the complaint of the Depot manager of OSRTC. The case is under investigation. After that, citing severe indiscipline instances of Jeypore unit's staff and due to lack of business during the ongoing pandemic, OSRTC has temporarily closed its Jeypore unit office and booking counter September 30. Bothra said "We have closed the unit office of Jeypore temporarily in view of the several indiscipline instances noticed among the staff and taking into the account of zero economic viability of the services from the operation during this pandemic. The operation of buses from Jeypore unit is also stopped and the unit office is closed for a temporary period. The regular employees of the unit have been attached to the nearby units like Malkangiri, Rayagada etc. for utilisation of their services."