10.0 Labour Welfare Measures

10.1 The Transport Corporations implement several welfare measures for workers and their families. Periodic Wage settlement is undertaken with the Unions. Apart from this, Service Weightage, Free Travel Passes to children of employees, Canteen facilities, Educational Allowance, Allowances with wages, Reimbursement of legal fees, Uniform, Family Benefit Fund, Funeral Expenses, Marriage loan, Steering Allowance, Voluntary Retirement Scheme, Education Advance, Leave Benefits, Holiday Home, Special Health Fund Scheme, Professional colleges / institutions for the benefit of children of employees, Employees Post Retirement Benefit Fund scheme are being implemented.

11.0 New Pension Scheme for the employees of

State Transport Undertakings:

A new pension scheme which is more advantageous than the Employees Pension Scheme 1995 has been formulated by excluding the State Transport Undertakings from the purview of the Employees’ Provident Fund Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952 with effect from 01.09.1998. The average gross monthly pension works out to Rs.3075 as against Rs.750 in the case of Regional Provident Fund Scheme and commutation for a member is around Rs.91,000. To implement the new Pension Scheme, a Trust has been created. The STUs have so far sanctioned pension to 6416 employees. The Trust has approached Commissioner of Income Tax for getting exemption from taking L.I.C. policies for getting income tax exemption. The STUs have also requested the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner to refund Rs.340 Crores (approximately) remitted under Family Pension Scheme 1971 and Employees Pension Scheme 1995 for transferring it to the Pension Fund.

12.0 Phased Privatisation:

In the Governor's address and Budget speech for the year 2002-2003, it has been announced that the Government proposes to go in for a phased privatisation of select routes, services and operations in the bus transport sector. The State Transport Undertakings operate around 15271 services on various routes consisting of 2582 City services operated in Chennai Metropolitan Area, 5598 services operated on Town routes in the Districts, 5775 Mofussil services, 813 services operated as Express Services and 503 services operated on Ghat routes. Phased privatisation of select routes, services and operations will be done. A High Level Committee is being constituted to work out the modalities. This phased privatisation will go hand in hand with the comprehensive restructuring of the State Transport Undertakings making them efficient, competitive and viable.

13.0 Action taken on Assurances

Against the assurance, for the purchase of 1550 buses, three State Transport Undertakings have sofar purchased 305 buses through Transport Development Finance Corporation Loan. Transport Development Finance Corporation has been sanctioned a loan of Rs.100 Crores from Life Insurance Corporation of India for on-lending to the State Transport Undertakings for the purchase of 1000 buses.

Keeping in tune with the policy of stationing one Ambulance at every 50 Kms distance in the National Highways for giving immediate medical attention to accident victims, 7 Ambulances have been allotted to the following Corporations.

MTC - 2

TNSTC, Madurai - 1

TNSTC, Salem - 1

TNSTC, Coimbatore - 1

TNSTC, Villupuram - 1

TNSTC, Tiruchi -

Reflectors have been provided in all the vehicles of STUs and all MDs have been instructed to maintain them in proper condition and to renew them periodically, so that accidents can be cut down.

It was announced that in selected routes of Chennai City, Ladies Special buses will be operated by Lady Drivers and Lady Conductors. 17 Lady Conductors are now available with MTC and the IRT has recently recruited two lady drivers. After suitable training, buses will be operated by these lady crew members.

To facilitate the aged, women and children and physically handicapped persons, steps of certain buses plying on key routes have been lowered. Action is being taken for procurement of Chassis with low floors. During the current year, it has been proposed to introduce 50 buses with low-level footboards on trial basis.

A software programme for reservation to the buses run by STUs through Internet has already been completed and preliminary arrangement at Reservation Centre at Chennai is ready. In future tie-up with Banks for booking with Credit Card will be introduced.

Efforts are being made with the Railway authorities for provision of Bus terminals at Egmore and Tambaram Railway Stations as in Central Railway Station. Necessary civil works at Tambaram Railway Station are underway to establish a bus bay. As certain buildings in Egmore Railway Station need demolition, talks are going on with the railway officials to finalise the construction of bus terminals/bay.

Out of the 500 new bus shelters with glittering light facility contemplated, 450 glow sign shelters have been erected and the work is in progress in the remaining 50 shelters. During the current year, it has been proposed to construct 500 new glow sign bus shelters in Chennai as well as other Cities.

Suitable land in Suthamalli Village in Tirunelveli District have been identified to establishing a Heavy Vehicles Driver Training Institute with a capital investment of Rs.25 Lakhs in Tirunelveli for the benefit of people from Southern Districts and action has been taken for the alienation of the land.

It is proposed to introduce a time bound programme for improving the operational efficiency, financial results, maintenance, and road safety standards of the STUs, as part of the revamping of the Transport sector as a whole.

14.0 Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation Limited

14.1 The Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation Limited (TDFC) was established in March 1975 in order to cater to the financial requirements of State Transport Undertakings for purchase of chassis, body building, setting up of workshops and working capital. The Corporation sources funds by mobilising public deposits. Authorised share capital of Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation is Rs.70.00 Crores. The Paid up share capital is Rs.61.74 Crores, out of which Government have contributed Rs.43.03 Crores and the State Transport Undertakings have contributed Rs.18.71 Crores.

14.2 Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation has been making profits since its inception. The profit earned in the last 5 years is as follows:

(Rupees. in lakhs)

14.3 The deposits of Transport Development Finance Corporation Ltd as on 31.03.2002 are Rs.872.33 Crores. Financial assistance extended by Transport Development Finance Corporation to the STUs since its inception upto 31.03.2002 is Rs.4802.48 Crores. With the financial assistance extended by Transport Development Finance Corporation the State Transport Undertakings have so far purchased 31,766 new buses. Transport Development Finance Corporation has also served the STUs by sanctioning short-term loans for Working Capital.

15.0 Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services Limited

15.1 Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services Limited (PTCS) was incorporated in April 1984 as a wholly owned company of Government of Tamilnadu with an Authorised capital of Rs.5.00 lakhs and Paid up capital of Rs.2.00 lakhs. Subsequently, in May 2000 the Paid up capital was increased to Rs.10 lakhs with Authorised share capital of Rs.50 lakhs. A Board of Directors appointed by the Government of Tamilnadu supervises the activities of the Company.

15.2 Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services Limited offers Consultancy services in the areas of Software Development, Management, Traffic and Transportation by a core team of qualified and experienced Consultants in the respective fields. The experts/retired Government Executives support the core team with experience in the relevant areas on job-to-job basis as and when required. Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services Limited has started participating in tenders as a Consortium, by associating with reputed Consultancy organisations which are having rich experience in the relevant fields.

15.3 Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services Limited is steadily growing since its inception in 1984 despite the competitive nature of Consultancy business. Good potential exists in the fields of Infrastructure Development Road Transport Sector and Managing Services. Efforts are being taken to expand business in these areas. As on 31.3.2001 the Reserve and surplus of the company is Rs. 5.50 lakhs.

16.0 Institute of Road Transport

16.1 The Institute of Road Transport is a registered Society under the Indian Societies Registration Act 1860. This Institute has entered its twenty-sixth year in 2001-2002 and continues to extend its services to the State Transport Undertakings. The Institute undertakes applied research on issues pertaining to Road Transport and quality monitoring by conducting tests of random samples of spare parts purchased by the State Transport Undertakings in Tamil Nadu besides engaging in imparting training activities on a large scale. The Automobile Research Oriented Engineering College known as Institute of Road and Transport Technology was started in 1984 at Erode. The Perundurai Medical College and Research Centre is functioning from 1986-87. Further, the Institute of Road Transport has also started three Polytechnics at Chrompet (Chennai), Bargur and Tirunelveli in 1992-93.

16.2 Both in the Engineering College and the Polytechnics, 50% seats are filled up by Government and the balances are allocated to the wards of employees of State Transport Undertakings on merit. As far as Perundurai Medical College is concerned, out of the total 60 seats, the Government fill up 40 seats and the balance 20 seats are allotted to the wards of employees. These institutions are being maintained out of the interest earned on Interest Free Loans contributed by the employees of State Transport Undertakings.

16.3 The Institute of Road Transport is also running a Driver Training Centre at Gummidipundi. The Institute of Road Transport is also running 13 Regional Centres in Tamil Nadu imparting training in driving heavy vehicles. Upto 2000-2001, around 30,393 persons were trained as Drivers and during the year 2001-2002, 3500 candidates are undergoing training. Further, the Institute of Road Transport is running one Driver Training School at Chrompet for imparting training in driving light motor vehicle and two wheelers from 1997 and one Driver Training Institute at Tiruchirappalli for imparting training in both driving Light & Heavy vehicles.

16.4 As announced in the floor of the Assembly, during 2001-2002 Budget Session, suitable land in Suthamalli Village in Tirunelveli District has been identified for starting a Driver Training Centre for the benefit of people from Southern Districts. Action is being pursued for the alienation of these lands.

17.0 Motor Vehicles Maintenance Department

17.1 Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Maintenance Department is a Service Department which undertakes maintenance and repair of approximately 10,000 Government Vehicles. There are 20 Workshops under its control in the Districts and a Service Station at Chennai inside Secretariat. 10 Consumer Petrol Bunks, 2 in Chennai (Nandanam and Secretariat) and the rest at Thanjavur, Madurai, Salem, Coimbatore, Trichy, Dharmapuri, Cuddalore and Nagercoil are run by this Department for supply of fuel and lubricants to the Government vehicles.

17.2. The Motor Vehicles Maintenance Department has introduced various scientific methods in the repair and upkeep of the Government Vehicles by "Unit Replacement System" and "Batch wise Production System" etc. This Department also undertakes the condemnation and disposal of Government Vehicles. During the year 2001-2002, 541 Vehicles have been condemned and disposed off. This Department has achieved 85.44% efficiency in major repairs and 64.48 % and 170.75% in respect of medium and minor repairs.

17.3. During the year 2001-2002, under Part-II Scheme, a sum of Rs.42.24 Lakhs has been sanctioned for the purchase of Xerox Machine, replacement of furnitures, provision of Gas Analyser and Smoke Meter, provision of A.C. Refrigerant Equipment, Provision of Telephone Connection, Provision of Electro-Mechanical Auto Lifts, Provision of essential Plants, Machineries and Equipments and for the purchase of Float Assemblies. All the works have been completed.

17.4. The following policy decisions have been taken for the improvement of the Motor Vehicles Maintenance Department and they are implemented from 1.8.2001.

Mobile Team has been set up to attend preventive maintenance and minor repairs at the Office premises of the vehicle owning officers.

Two batches are proposed to work on holidays to attend to the repair works in Government Central Automobile Workshop at Chennai.

It is proposed to maintain different types of floats in order to reduce the downtime of Government vehicles considerably.

18.0 Railways, Telecom and Civil Aviation.

18.1 The Transport Department is the Nodal Agency in the State Government, co-ordinating with the Railways, Postal, Telecom and Civil Aviation Department of the Government of India on their Projects implemented within the State of Tamil Nadu. The land requirement proposals given by these Government of India agencies are co-ordinated with the District Collector/Commissioner of Land Administration for acquisition.

18.2. Apart from the other ongoing projects implemented by Railways in Tamil Nadu, the following projects are implemented on cost sharing basis with State Government sharing the cost on 50:50 basis.

This Government have also agreed to share the project cost for connecting Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore Terminals by elevated Broad Gauge Double Line on 50:50 basis.

18.3 The Shrine Vailankanni Church Authorities have donated a sum of Rs.1 Crore to the Railways for laying the new Broad Gauge Line between Nagappattinam and Vailankanni.

18.4. This Government is also continuously impressing upon the Government of India on the need to improve the rail network and undertaking development activities like Gauge conversion, extension of Railway Lines and augmentation of Railway facilities in Tamil Nadu. The Railway Ministry has been requested by this Government for enhanced allotment of funds for the ongoing projects in Tamil Nadu and also to take up the following projects for the socio-economic development of this region.

Quadrupling of Railway line between Pattabiram and Arakkonam.

New Line between Avadi and Sriperumputhur.

Gauge Conversion of Nagore-Karaikkal and Thanjavur-Villupuram Sections.

New Line between Sathyamangalam and Palani (via) Tiruppur-Kangeyam-Dharapuram.

18.5 Civil Aviation:

Due to the sustained efforts of this Government and also to cater to the growing traffic needs, the Airport Authority of India have decided to expand the runway in Trichy, Madurai and Coimbatore Airports and also to install Approach Lighting System and other amenities for the operation of the wide- bodied Aircraft.

18.6. Action has been taken to acquire 19.12.50 Hectares of Land for Trichy Airport, 24.61.0 Hectares of Land for Madurai Airport and 45.960 Hectares of Land for Coimbatore Airport. Though the other Airports at Salem and Thoothukudi are not in proper operation, due to lack of passenger support and dis-interest by private operators, this Government is striving hard to put them in operation.

19.0 Madras Flying Club:

Government are also supporting Madras Flying Club by way of subsidy in their endeavour to encourage Civil Flying and also to assist students to acquire Pilot Licenses. A fixed subsidy of Rs.3.80 Lakhs and a fuel subsidy of Rs.3.72 Lakhs are sanctioned to Madras Flying Club in each year. Besides, the Government have ordered the sanction of scholarships for 10 students each for getting Private Pilot License Training and Commercial Pilot License Training.

R. VISWANATHAN