KURTC puts brakes on drivers at 60 kmph
The restriction comes even as the speed governors of super-class buses are fixed at 70 kmph, as sanctioned by the MVD
Kochi: The Kerala Urban Road Transport Corporation (KURTC) management has given a strange direction to its drivers — not to drive over 60 kmph even as the Motor Vehicle Department has allowed speed governors to be set at 70 kmph.
The reason: a total of 60 notices were received by the corporation in the last two months for speeding by its drivers costing it nearly Rs 24,000 towards fine alone.
"In the wake of the fines slapped on many drivers through the automatic enforcement system of the police, it's hereby directed that all drivers should drive at a maximum speed of 60 kmph. If the drivers do otherwise, the management will have no responsibility over the same," read a memorandum (GI/ 213/15) issued by the Special Officer, KURTC, Thevara.
The restriction comes even as the speed governors of super-class buses are fixed at 70 kmph, as sanctioned by the MVD.
"We issued the direction to all units after it came to our notice that the 'overspeed' shown in the notices are below 70 kmph. A majority of the buses were caught on the CCTV cameras set up at Chengannur. We've also taken up with the traffic police and the authorities concerned to determine whether there is any fault with the CCTV in Chengannur," said a senior KURTC officer.
The ticket charges levied in the KURTC low-floor, long-distance buses are currently high, for instance, Rs 363 for a trip from Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram. The KURTC buses used to take much less time than the super-class buses which resulted in much passenger demand.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.