The Gazetteers Department

Nationalisation of passenger transport was decided upon by the State Government in August 1947 and operations were started depart-mentally in June 1948, the administration of which was subsequently handed over to a statutory corporation in December 1949, under the provisions of the Road Transport Corporation Act (XXXII of 1948). Since then the Corporation has been reconstituted under the Road Transport Corporation Act, LXIV of 1950.

For administrative convenience of operations the entire State was originally divided into 16 viable units (now eight, after the transfer of three units to Mysore on account of States Reorganisation in 1956 and five units to Gujarat after the break up of the bilingual Bombay State in May, 1960) called divisions. The officer-in-charge of each division is called the Divisional Controller who is a Class I officer. The Divisional Controller is immediately under the control of the Central Office of which the General Manager is the administrative head assisted by the following departments and branches viz., (1) Administration, (2) Traffic, (3) Mechanical Engineering, (4) Accounts and Audit, (5) Statistics, (6) Security, (7) Stores, (8) Civil Engineering, (9) Secretariat, (10) Legal and (11) Central Workshops.

Organisation.

Nationalisation of transport services in Ratnagiri division was started in November, 1949, with headquarters at Mahad which in April 1950, was transferred to Ratnagiri. The Divisional Controller, Ratnagiri Division, is the head of the Division and is responsible for the operations. He is assisted by seven Class II officers, who have the following functional responsibilities.

The Divisional Traffic Officer is in charge of all matters related to traffic and operations.

The Labour Officer looks after all matters relating to labour relations with the administration, welfare and publicity in the division.

Accounts and Statistics branches are manned by two officers, the Divisional Auditor and the Divisional Statistician.

The Workshop is looked after by the Divisional Engineer with the assistance of a Divisional Works Superintendent. Besides, there are as many Depot Managers as there are depots who are wholly responsible for the working of the depots. One of them is a Depot Superintendent in charge of a main depot.

Extent of Operation.

The operations started in November 1949, with 75 buses plying on seven routes. By 31st May 1958, the operations were spread over practically the whole of the district, the division having a fleet of 165 buses plying on 133 routes. The buses put on road have, on an average, a seating capacity of 37.3, exclusive of the seats for the driver and the conductor. The average daily mileage operated by these buses during May, 1958, was 14,803, carrying on an average 25,541, passengers per day.

Statistics.

The Division also held a fleet of 37 trucks on 31st May, 1958. These trucks operated as public carriers on contract basis, on terms prescribed by the Corporation.

Workshops and Depots.

The light and heavy repairs of the buses and trucks are carried out at the Divisional Workshop, which is situated at Ratnagiri. Further, after the operation of every 12,000 miles the vehicles are routed by the depots to the Divisional Workshop for preventive maintenance and docking. In addition a maintenance and running repairs workshop is situated at each depot. These are located at Ratnagiri (28), Deorukh (13), Chiplun (22), Dapoli (19), Sawantwadi (41), Malvan (21), Deogad (15), and Vijayadurg (6). The number of vehicles attached to each depot is given in brackets. Regular daily and weekly servicing and 3,000 miles docking for maintenance are carried out in these depots.

Amenities.

For the convenience of the travelling public the Corporation has been providing a number of amenities. So far, bus stations and bus stands have been erected at Harnai, Dapoli, Khed, Chiplun, Guhaghar, Makhjan, Sangameshwar, Deorukh, Ratnagiri, Pali, Sakharpa; Lanje, Rajapur, Banda, Vijayadurg, Shiroda, Deogad, Nandgaon, Phonda, Kankavli, Malvan, Kudal, Amboli, Sawantwadi and Vengurla. Waiting rooms have also been provided at Chiplun, Ratnagiri, and Sawantwadi. Sheds for passengers have been provided at 48 places in the division. Canteens have also been provided at the bus stations at Dapoli, Khed, Chiplun, Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, Lanje, Deogad, Phonda, Kankavli, Malvan, Amboli and Sawantwadi.

The Corporation also provides welfare facilities to its employees. A Labour Welfare Centre has been opened at Ratnagiri. Canteens for the workers are provided at Dapoli, Khed, Chiplun, Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, Lanje, Deogad, Phonda, Kankavli, Malvan, Amboli and Sawantwadi and Rest Rooms at Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Deogad, Phonda and Malvan. Facilities for sports, recreation and medical attention have also been provided. Sixty double room tenements have been constructed under the subsidised industrial housing scheme for the workshop staff coming under the Factory Act.

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