Now Bus Owners along with Cops to Crack Down on Errant Drivers/Conductors
Mangaluru: With people making way too many complaints about the errant bus drivers and conductors during the Police Commissioner Phone-In Programme, the PC, T R Suresh has asked president of Canara Bus Owners Association, Rajavarma Ballal, and president of Dakshina Kannada district Bus Owners Association president, Aziz Parthipady, to take necessary actions against their employees and straighten things up. In response to PC’s request, both the Presidents of the Two Bus Associations have agreed to launch a week-long exercise to discipline bus drivers and conductors of both Service and City buses, starting Monday, 16 October.
As per Aziz Parthipady, a team of private bus operators and police personnel will remain stationed at Light House Hill Road bus stop, Karavali Junction/Circle and other prominent places to discipline bus drivers and conductors. The conductors will be checked if they are issuing tickets properly- and if they notice any serious transgression of rules of bus operations, the bus owners will make a note of it and will raise the issue during their next meeting, to rectify it.
According to Aziz, a similar exercise was held three years ago, which resulted in bringing many changes in the behaviour of drivers and conductors. It has also come to the notice of the PC that drivers and conductors smoke inside the bus. There had been complaints about buses not stopping at the designated stops, instead, stopping wherever the driver wants, thereby making it hard for the passengers. Also, it has been noted that buses are taking different routes in order to avoid traffic congestion, which has also resulted in the inconveniences of the commuters.
The PC has also stated that in addition to this exercise assured by the Bus Owners, the police will also conduct surprise checks and book cases against those violating permit conditions and traffic rules and regulations.
