Hyderabad: RTC has warning lights, won't fit them on buses

Hyderabad: Ever had the mortification of nearly ramming into an RTC bus because it slowed down suddenly, and there were no brake lights? Ever had to take evasive action when an RTC bus suddenly swerved into your lane without the turn indicators?

This is because RTC officials have not bothered to replace the lights. Only a few of the over 3,500 buses that the RTC operates in the city have brake lights or indicators.

Traffic experts said tails lamp and indicators are very important as motorists following behind need to know whether the bus is making a turning or slowing down and stopping.

“There is every possibility of an accident taking place if vehicles do not have these alert lights,” said Mr T.S. Reddy, former scientist from the Central Road Research Institute.

Inquiries by this correspondent revealed that there was no shortage of tail lamps, parking lights and indicators in the TSRTC stores. Officials do not get them replaced as the traffic police has not been booking RTC buses for not having indicators or brake lights.

In the last two years, traffic police has booked only three cases against RTC drivers for turning the bus without turning on the indicators.

“Each bus requires two brake lamps, four indicators and two parking lights. Each brake light or indicator costs not more than Rs 140. There has never been a shortage of these fittings in the RTC stores. As and when a requirement is placed, they are supplied,” an official in RTC store at Uppal said.

Even if all three sets of lights are replaced on all the 3,500 RTC buses once a year, it would cost not more than Rs 42 lakh.

DCP (traffic) A.V. Ran-ganath said the traffic police had not taken up a special drive against RTC buses for not having caution lights. “We will start booking cases on RTC buses,” he said.