Frequent transfer of MTC GMs affects employees and commuters: Unions

DTNext has learnt from reliable sources that two General Managers have been transferred in the last six months. According to MTC sources, frequent transfers of GMs would not only affect administrative work, but the employees need to put forth their demands afresh every time new GM takes over. Further, since GM is also in-charge of the safety of buses, it would take long time for a newly appointed GM to get to terms with the issues MTC faces. Balachandran, president of Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU), MTC, said, “A GM should remain the position for at least a year to understand how MTC functions. 

Since Chennai corporation is a big one, the GM should have known all the routes in order to take crucial decisions,” he said and added that the frequent transfers would also affect the pending works. Some other members said such transfers would affect the employees in terms of receiving their due benefits. 

“I applied for reviewed benefits after six years in service, but it has got delayed since the GM was transferred within a week of my proposal. I was supposed to get the benefits in February but when I approached the new GM, I was told that my file was still pending for approval,” said a staff, who got the benefits in May without arrears. 

Meanwhile, staff of MTC said that public too pay the price for such transfers. “For instance, residents from some areas would have submitted a request to alter certain routes or operate new buses. GM plays an important role to take a decision after scrutiny of such demands,” the staff added. When DTNext contacted, Krishnamurthy, present Managing Director of MTC, said that there was no motive behind the transfer. “All the GMs are transferred on the basis of seniority and they get promoted,” he said.