One minute stop
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The rule regarding one minute stoppage of city buses at bus stands will be more strictly enforced now and 'challan' will be issued against erring buses, it was stated.
Guwahati traffic police will now issue e-challans for fines to bus owners if a city bus stops for more than one minute at any stop, said official sources.
The rule of city buses allowed to stop for minute at bus stops was passed some time back but drivers flout it with impunity.
Passengers travelling in the city buses often have a harrowing time and arguments usually take place between the passengers and driver or staff of such buses. The usual complaint is that the bus operators are only interested in getting more passengers and this often results in a 'competition' among different buses. The plight of passengers most often takes the back seat.
Akansha Gogoi, a student and frequent city bus traveler, recounted her woes by saying, "Earlier there used to be the problem of overcrowding in city buses. Although there is less overcrowding now, buses more often than not stop for more than one minute at every stoppage. At some stoppages, it is for as long as five minutes. I usually get late for classes due to the long stoppages and sometimes unscheduled stops for taking on a passenger from the roadside. Although there is a rule against such stoppage, there is none to implement it. It is high time the authorities did something about this."
An elderly passenger echoed her sentiments and said, "Many things need to change. Rules and regulations are not implemented or observed. Somehow, we lag behind in implementing the rules. It is not only the police. There should be special groups set up to monitor the buses. Cadre like NCC can be used for the purpose. Special drives should be conducted to check rule-breakers. Very often the buses break line and engage in competition to pick up more passengers. This is very dangerous and accidents might happen."
Similar views were expressed by other passengers and the news that buses will be fined for stopping for more than one minute brought cheer to them.
A traffic constable, who did not want to be named, said it was not possible to monitor the city buses as the traffic police personnel are posted at traffic points, despite the new traffic lights that have come up at many crossroads. He opined that DTO staff should be employed. But the dearth of manpower is evident here too. Training the bus drivers and staff to observe rules should get precedence, it was felt.
It is high time the authorities cracked the whip on errant drivers for people to better avail the city bus services, was the popular refrain.
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