Bengaluru: The state transport department wants all private bus operators to observe a maximum speed limit of 65 km per hour, limit duty time of drivers to eight hours and do away with over time.
If this order is to be implemented, the bus operators will have to deploy two drivers for night buses. The department has quoted the Motor Transport Workers Act 1961, which stipulates maximum working hours for the crew members of the bus. Currently the transport operators hardly follow norms regarding speed limit or working hours for the drivers, thereby putting passengers’ lives in danger.
According to the industry insiders most of the high-end buses touch a speed of 100 km on National Highways.
“Generally these buses were preferred by the passengers as they take lesser time to reach destinations. Even though speed governor was made mandatory from November, 2011, they are not functional in most buses. Henceforth buses should not cross 65 km/hr. If the distance is long, two drivers must be deputed,” said an expert on conditions of anonymity.
An officer from the transport department told this newspaper that the new decision will have far reaching impact. “Currently only KSRTC buses properly follow the speed limit norm. The Corporation is also using two drivers for long routes. But private bus operators, in order to cut costs, deploy only one driver. Henceforth we will take this very seriously,” he said.
But the private bus operators said the state government’s latest order will adversely affect the industry. “Jabbar bus accident is a rarest of rare case. Now in the name of safety measures, state transport department is imposing even unscientific rules on us. In this present era of toll roads, there is no problem even if high end buses touch 90 km speed.
We have sophisticated roads and modern buses with well equipped with modern safety measures. So the government should re-consider its decision. If we raise voice we get witch haunted. The department is not providing any platform to listen to our concerns,” he said.
