Date:27/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122757850400.htm

New Delhi

BJP alleges nexus in Blueline operation

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan on Friday accused the Delhi Government, the Traffic Police and the Blueline bus operators of connivance that had resulted in continuation of operation of these buses despite their killing 121 people already this year.

In a statement, Dr. Vardhan said while so many people were dying on the Capital’s roads, the Delhi Government had not taken any final decision on the Blueline buses. He also lamented that a compensation package for the people killed by the Blueline buses had also not been decided so far.

The BJP leader demanded that a compensation of Rs.5 lakh each be given to those killed by the Blueline or Delhi Transport Corporation buses.

Noting that the anger of the people against the Blueline buses had made the Government initiate action against them over the past three days and this had led to 1,848 buses being challaned on different counts, Dr. Vardhan said it was surprising that as many as 133 Blueline buses were caught running on Delhi’s roads despite their permits having been suspended.

While the buses were prosecuted for various offences such as crossing the red light, wrongly overtaking other vehicles, running outside the bus lane and not obeying the traffic rules, Dr. Vardhan said it was clear that these buses operate without a care for the law or the other road users.