Telangana: Sleeper buses violate rules

Hyderabad: Soon after the cancellation of registration of tourist buses by the Arunachal Pradesh government on June 5 for operating in TS, AP and Karnataka illegally, the Road Transport Authority of the Telugu states launched special drives and seized the buses. Operators approached courts for stay orders. There is a reported move to get the buses registered locally. However, the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 states that sleeper coach buses with national permit are illegal.

Both the Telugu states do not have the provision to register sleeper coach buses with 2+1 seating structure. The rules allow only 1+1 sleeper coaches. Due to this provision, the operators were approaching the Arunachal Pradesh transport department for registration of the buses with national permits. Transport expert C.L.N. Gandhi, a former additional commissioner of transport, said buses registered with either the TS or AP governments with 1+1 berth layout could be operated only inside the respective states and not between states

“Rule Number 128 (10) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules emphasises on seats in tourist buses and speaks of pushback seats and foot rests. There is no provision for sleeper berths. The rule says sleeper coaches with national permits are illegal. No state is allowing 2+1 sleeper coaches, even Arunachal Pradesh,” he said. Joint transport commissioner J. Pandurang Naik said that the AP Motor Vehicle Rules had a provision to register 1+1 sleeper coaches in tourist buses. “As per Rule Number 351 (A), we can register 1+1 sleeper coaches in the Telugu states. But, the operators should run the buses within the state,” he said.

TSRTC Employees’ Union general secretary K. Raji Reddy said the private bus mafia was acting as a monopoly and violating rules. “Approaching courts and blackmailing officials is the modus operandi of the mafia. The transport department should take stringent action as per the law to stop the buses run by mafia,” he said.