BENGALURU: While the entire state is getting into the spirit of the 10-day Dasara festivities, KSRTC bus drivers are fretting over the meagre allowance they are being given for conducting Ayudha puja for the vehicles.
Like last year, the cash-strapped KSRTC is giving the bus crew only Rs 100 each towards puja expenses. Bus drivers and conductors rue how they can conduct puja with such a meagre amount, especially when about a 2-metre length of chrysanthemum is now costing anywhere between Rs 70-100.
The KSRTC staff point out that they have to get the bus cleaned and decorated before conducting puja. With the corporation giving just Rs 100 towards puja expenses, they said they will have to pay from their pockets and expressed dissatisfaction about the KSRTC management.
The KSRTC has allocated Rs 1,000 to each divisional workshop and Rs 5,000 each to regional workshops for Ayudha puja with instructions that puja should be conducted meaningfully for all machinery and vehicles which are in working condition.