CHENNAI: There's just a day left for the Madras high court's deadline for installing speed governors in private omni buses, but bus operators are not too concerned.
"Not even one bus in our association has been fitted with a speed governor," said Tamil Nadu Omni Bus Association president A Afzal. "The order reached us only two days ago and we are confident that we will get an extension," he said. The association has 137 members with a fleet of 1,000 buses.
Regional transport office (RTO) officials say that even with an extension, the owners may not take the order seriously. "They will probably appeal to the Supreme Court," said an RTO official.
Afzal said the court has skirted the real issue. "The real issue is the pathetic condition of our highways and overworked lorry drivers who drive at night under the influence of alcohol," said Afzal.
Following the bus accident in Vellore in which 22 people died in June, advocate Kashinath Bharathi filed a public interest litigation saying all private omni buses should be fitted with speed governors that limits the speed of the bus to 90 km/hour. The government had done this in its buses three decades ago.
National Crime Records Bureau data for 2010 shows that Tamil Nadu had the highest number of road accidents. With close to 65,000 road accidents, the state accounts for 15% of all road accidents.
RTO officials said many bus drivers are overworked and have tight schedules. "Often, I have done three trips between Chennai and Trichy continuously," said Kannan (name changed), a 25-year-old driver. Though there is another driver to accompany him, he doesn't get more than four hours of sleep a night. "For months, we sleep only in the bus. We do not get a day off once a week and they pay us a paltry salary," he said.
Drivers also said the mental pressure sometimes affects their driving. "Many passengers lose their temper over small delays," said Murugappa (name changed), a driver with over 30 years of experience. He said he often speeds, covering the 650km between Chennai and Tirunelveli in eight hours.
Apart from speed governors, RTO officials will also look for braking efficiency, seating capacity, type of window glass and availability of emergency exits before issuing fitness certificates for buses.
The Tamil Nadu government has banned sleeper coaches as they are cumbersome in the event of an accident or during delayed journeys. "In the Vellore accident, there was no time for people to get out of their berths. Also, if a journey is delayed, how long can the passenger remain lying down?" said an official.
"Not even one bus in our association has been fitted with a speed governor," said Tamil Nadu Omni Bus Association president A Afzal. "The order reached us only two days ago and we are confident that we will get an extension," he said. The association has 137 members with a fleet of 1,000 buses.
Regional transport office (RTO) officials say that even with an extension, the owners may not take the order seriously. "They will probably appeal to the Supreme Court," said an RTO official.
Afzal said the court has skirted the real issue. "The real issue is the pathetic condition of our highways and overworked lorry drivers who drive at night under the influence of alcohol," said Afzal.
Following the bus accident in Vellore in which 22 people died in June, advocate Kashinath Bharathi filed a public interest litigation saying all private omni buses should be fitted with speed governors that limits the speed of the bus to 90 km/hour. The government had done this in its buses three decades ago.
National Crime Records Bureau data for 2010 shows that Tamil Nadu had the highest number of road accidents. With close to 65,000 road accidents, the state accounts for 15% of all road accidents.
RTO officials said many bus drivers are overworked and have tight schedules. "Often, I have done three trips between Chennai and Trichy continuously," said Kannan (name changed), a 25-year-old driver. Though there is another driver to accompany him, he doesn't get more than four hours of sleep a night. "For months, we sleep only in the bus. We do not get a day off once a week and they pay us a paltry salary," he said.
Drivers also said the mental pressure sometimes affects their driving. "Many passengers lose their temper over small delays," said Murugappa (name changed), a driver with over 30 years of experience. He said he often speeds, covering the 650km between Chennai and Tirunelveli in eight hours.
Apart from speed governors, RTO officials will also look for braking efficiency, seating capacity, type of window glass and availability of emergency exits before issuing fitness certificates for buses.
The Tamil Nadu government has banned sleeper coaches as they are cumbersome in the event of an accident or during delayed journeys. "In the Vellore accident, there was no time for people to get out of their berths. Also, if a journey is delayed, how long can the passenger remain lying down?" said an official.
No comments:
Post a Comment