Private bus owners go for the 'lease' route to drive profits

Proprietors leasing vehicles to independent driver-conductor groups instead of employing staff directly, often leading to reckless driving and mishaps, says report

- P RAMDAS @Kochi

AN alarming trend in the private transport sector has come to light, with a police report revealing that many bus owners are leasing their vehicles to independent driver-conductor groups instead of employing staff directly.

According to the report by the assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Kochi city, the practice prioritises profit over passenger safety, often leading to reckless driving, mismanagement and increased road accidents. Authorities are now set to scrutinise the financial records of these bus owners to determine whether they have been collecting a fixed rent from these groups instead of paying regular salaries, a practice officials say raises serious accountability concerns.