Date:16/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/16/stories/2006081604210600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Cracking down on the killer buses

P. Oppili

Strict discipline, better maintenance can reduce accidents

CHENNAI : A common complaint of city residents is that Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses are the most intimidating factor on the road.

Their apprehension is not totally misplaced as available data shows that last year alone more than 100 people died because of the rash and negligent driving by MTC drivers.

But rash driving alone is not to blame for the increase in fatal accidents involving MTC buses, say officials. "Though a section of drivers are rash and negligent, other factors such as rise in the vehicle population, an unionised force, ageing fleets and inadequate maintenance also lead to fatal mishaps," says an MTC official. An officer says an analysis of the accidents revealed that casual labourers employed by the MTC were responsible for many of the mishaps. At present, some 500 persons are employed as casual labourers and the Corporation has a driver strength of about 6,400.

In the recent past, few new vehicles have been added to MTC's fleet. Of its total strength of 2,700 buses, nearly 1,600 are old vehicles; among the old ones, nearly 250 of them were brought from the districts and redeployed on the city roads. These vehicles needed adequate maintenance, the lack of which resulted in breakdowns and, in some cases, to accidents, said a senior officer.

Similarly, some of the unions protect the employees by compelling the authorities not to initiate strict action against the offenders, he said.

Do these errant drivers who cause accidents go scot-free?

No, say officials. None of the drivers involved in road accidents, irrespective of the scale of the accident, goes scot-free, they maintain.

Punishments, proportionate to the severity of the accidents, are awarded to them, say the officials.

For example, if a driver is involved in a simple accident, he is issued a warning memo and then sent to the MTC Training School in Anna Nagar to attend a refresher course for two days. For those involved in major accidents, increments are postponed.

If a driver is involved in a fatal accident, he is placed under suspension immediately, and has to undergo a refresher course for a week. If the driver is involved in a fatal accident for the second time, he will be terminated from service, the authorities said.

The Corporation installed GPRS on an experimental basis in a few vehicles sometime ago. The system enables the officials to track the vehicle and its speed. Also, in case of a road block, the vehicle can be diverted through another route. Officials have recommended the installation of the GPRS throughout the fleet, they said.

In order to reduce fatal accidents, the authorities are planning to introduce doors that close automatically in its fleet.

Only stringent action against violators, acquiring new vehicles and better maintenance of the fleet would help in bringing down the number of fatal accidents involving MTC buses, said a retired MTC officer.