Tough steps on cards for erring pvt bus operators

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 15

With no let-up in road accidents by private buses, Sirmaur DC Lalit Jain has recommended liabilities on the owners of private vehicles after Rs 50 lakh was borne by the district administration in one such fatal bus accident.

Ex gratia is given to the kin of the deceased as well as to the injured by the state government and crores are incurred every year though such accidents occur due to the negligence of vehicle operators.

Lalit Jain said the proposal had been made to the Director, Transport, after the receipt of a magisterial inquiry report of a fatal accident which took place on the Dadahu-Nahan road on November 25.

Ten persons had been killed and 50 injured and Rs 50 lakh was disbursed by the district administration.

The recommendation can tighten the noose around the erring drivers who cause loss worth crores to the state exchequer every year.

Considering the fact that the accident had occurred due to human error, it was imperative to impose restrictions on the route permits issued to the owners and their family members in the future. If the bus owner failed to pay the ex gratia, his land would be auctioned, he said.

He also suggested that the fitness of passenger vehicles should be renewed twice a year as against the practice of annual renewals as the wear and tear on the hilly terrain was more. Only authorised dealers and workshops should inspect the fitness of the vehicles. The buses should be equipped with GPS-based speed controlling devices which should be monitored by RTOs.

The magisterial inquiry, conducted by the SDM, Nahan, also revealed that as against the seating capacity of 37, there were 60 passengers in the ill-fated bus of Meenu Coach on the fateful day.

Passengers revealed that apart from driving in high speed, the driver was also playing high-pitched music in the bus.

Since an HRTC bus was plying behind it, the driver wanted to keep his bus ahead. The bus was not only plying on an unsanctioned route, but his negligence had also caused the accident. No mechanical failure was found in the bus as had been alleged by the driver.

Sirmaur DC proposes financial punishment

• The Sirmaur DC has forwarded the proposal to the Director, Transport, after the inquiry report of an accident which took place on the Dadahu-Nahan road on Nov 25
• It will tighten the noose around the erring drivers who cause loss worth crores to the state exchequer every year
• If the bus owner fails to pay the ex gratia, his land will be auctioned
• The fitness of vehicles should be renewed twice a year as the wear and tear on the hilly terrain is more