Govt cracks down on loading of luggage atop buses

The Transport Department is checking the transport of hazardous goods in buses, in an effort to ensure the safety of travellers. 

In such a drive at Majestic and KR Market on Saturday, Regional Transport Officials (RTO) officials took action against private operators which had loaded goods atop 14 buses. The officials fined the operators and removed the luggage before permitting them to ferry the passengers. The drive has been intensified as people head out of town for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. 

According to RTO officials, loading luggage atop the bus may cause accidents in mountainous and hilly areas where drivers are likely to lose control over the vehicles. 

During similar checks in the past, transport officials had seized a container of sulphuric acid being transported in the luggage compartment of a bus. Despite the special drives, the practice of transporting hazardous substances continues unabated. 

While no hazardous item was seized during the latest drive, transport officials spent their energies on checking loading of luggage atop buses. Officials believe that penalising the operators with hefty fines can make them fall in line. 

During the drive, officials also noticed faults in the safety measures in buses. For example, emergency exits were bolted and fire extinguishers were not replaced. N Kariyappa, a senior RTO inspector, recalled a recent instance when he found motorbikes with tanks full of fuel, crackers and batteries in the luggage compartment of a bus.