State Transport department enhances remuneration of contractual bus drivers

Kolkata: The state Transport department has enhanced the remuneration of contractual drivers engaged by the different corporations under the state Transport department.

A notification undersigned by state Transport secretary, Saumitra Mohan states that the remuneration of such contractual drivers on initial engagement will be Rs 16000 per month. The previous starting salary of the drivers was Rs 13,500 per month.

According to the notification, on completion of 5 years, 10 years and 15 years from initial engagement the salaries of the drivers will be Rs 20,000, Rs 25,000 Rs 31,000 respectively.

On completion of 20 years from initial engagement the monthly pay will be Rs 38,000.

It was in the year 2016 when the state government started engaging drivers on contractual basis in the corporations under the Transport department that includes West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) erstwhile Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC), Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC), South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) and North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC).

Initially, the starting salary of bus drivers was Rs 11,000 per month, which was increased to Rs 13,500 in 2017, under the condition of working 26 days a month.

The consolidated monthly remuneration of the drivers will be effective from January 1 , 2025. This will be applicable for the drivers till attaining the age of 60 years subject to renewal of the engagement.

There are presently 1,500 contractual drivers and conductors in the five corporations under the state Transport department.

The revised remuneration of the conductors will also be announced soon.

Recently, the state Cabinet has approved recruitment of 881 bus drivers and conductors who will be recruited on contractual basis through agencies.