Bus operators ignore rules: Commissioner disappointed

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police T R Suresh expressed disappointment with private bus operators failing repeatedly to adhere to the rules and threatened to initiate appropriate action against the violators.

Suresh, redressing grievances at the phone-in programme organised by Mangaluru Commissionerate of police on Friday, said that it came to his notice that conductors in private buses do not issue tickets to passengers and refuse to return the exact change. He was also aware that private bus owners were outsourcing their buses to others on a rental basis.

"Unfortunately those running buses on lease are not taking any responsibility,'' he regretted and added that these issues will be discussed with Regional Transport Officer (RTO) and in Regional Transport Authority meeting to ensure that there will be fewer complaints against bus conductors of private buses. Suresh was responding when a passenger Juliana accused bus conductors of treating elder passengers in a rude manner.

DCP Uma Prashant informed that cases had been registered against bus conductors for violating rules. 105 cases had been filed against rash driving, 95 cases for not wearing uniform and 50 cases for not issuing tickets. A resident from Talapady said that the sand extracted from the backwaters of River Nethravathi at Alivebagilu was being smuggled to Kerala. The frequent movement of trucks had left the road unmotorable.

Another resident complained against commercial establishments that prevented parking of vehicles by displaying 'No Parking' boards. Security guards employed in such establishments abuse owners who park their vehicles in the restricted space. Commissioner of Police and DCP agreed that commercial establishments should not restrict parking space.

Responding to a Bejai resident's complaint on old commercial buildings being unsafe, Suresh promised to talk to MCC officials on ensuring that the safety norms were met during the renewal of trade licenses. On the problems faced by commuters due to high beam LED lights used by some vehicles, DCP (Crime and Traffic) Uma Prashanth said, a drive was launched to discourage vehicles from using high beam lights.

Many of the complaints were related to illegal parking near Yeyyadi junction, lack of footpaths, lack of parking space on Pandeshwar railway station road, worn out humps near Babbukatte school, Ambika Nagar in Kavoor, Balmatta-Bendoorwell road, fish lorry menace in Jeppu, dumping of poultry waste in River Nethravathi, uncleared garbage on Deralakatte road, absence of direct bus facility from Mangaluru to Kumpala and eve-teasing near railway station road in Attavara.