JOIN USCarrying cell phones may cost drivers' jobs: RTA
If its decision comes into force, the bus drivers (both of the private and the KSRTC) in its jurisdiction who carry cell phones with them during their duty hours are going to lose their driving licenses.
Not just using of cell phones while driving, but the drivers’ very act of keeping cell phones with them in the duty hours, may draw this stringent action, according to the RTA decision announced at the ‘Transport Adalat’ held at the DC’s office here on Thursday.
“If any passenger complains to the RTA, attaching a photograph of the driver talking over the cell phone, the DL of the driver will be cancelled. An RTA team will also conduct frequent surprise inspections to find out whether any driver carries a cell phone with him,” Chairman of the RTA and Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj said at the adalat.
Discussing the complaints over the use of cell phones by bus drivers at the adalat, Ponnuraj said the RTA was keen on implementing “citizen-enforced rules and regulations.” Hence, their complaints would be considered seriously.
Superintendent of Police Dr A Subrahmanyeshwar Rao said that the drivers should leave the cell phones with somebody at the starting point and get back the same at the end of their duty.
Responding to the complaint that some private buses do not stop at bus shelters but somewhere else, especially in the congested junctions, Ponnuraj said if the members of the public come up with specific complaints and the ‘photo proof,’ the permits of such buses will be cancelled.
GPS soon
The DC said the process of implementing Global Positioning System (GPS) in the private buses is at its final stage, and once it is implemented all kinds of complaints including the use of cell phones, irregular timings and stopping at non-specified places will find a permanent solution. The system will come into force in one or two months, he said.
Log book
Referring to a complaint that some city buses which are supposed to ply on certain routes are not covering those routes causing inconvenience to the passengers, Ponnuraj said the private bus operators have already been instructed to maintain log books atleast in three different places on each of their routes, in which the drivers or conductors need to sign each time they cross them. “This will certainly make the buses to ply on their actual routes,” he said.
KSRTC buses in City
The much debated issue of the proposed introduction of KSRTC buses in the City was also discussed in the adalat in detail. Ponnuraj said the district administration cannot issue new permits since the private bus operators have obtained a stay against the route formation notification of the State government.
“We are also keen on introducing the KSRTC buses but it cannot happen until the stay is vacated. The government is trying its level best in this direction,” he said. “Some organisations and individuals are making allegations through media with the incomplete information they have,” he added.
Hanumanth Kamath of Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike had recently alleged that though the KSRTC had already applied for permits for 41 city buses, the RTA had not issued permits.
“New permits had been sought in 2008 which had been deferred at that time without consideration. Now, there is stay since October 2009. There are no fresh applications too,” Ponnuraj said.
New bus terminus
The DC said land acquisition for the new bus terminus at Pumpwell is complete, and the works will commence within a short period. Once the new bus stand comes up, the entire problem of traffic congestion and the barrier of DM notification denying new permits from the State Bank area will be solved, he added.