BANGALORE: People travelling in private buses from the city faced a harrowing time as RTO officials launched a crackdown on Volvo buses that had failed to install emergency exits. About 50 buses were seized across the state, including 25 in Bangalore city alone.
The Karnataka government had issued an ultimatum to the transport operators to fix the emergency exits on their Volvo carriers. The ultimatum followed several incidents involving Volvo buses catching fire leading to casualties. Besides the emergency exits, several other safety measures too had been prescribed.
Two back-to-back accidents last year involving Volvo buses that claimed 52 lives led the government to tighten the screws on private transporters.
On Thursday, authorities seized over 50 Volvo buses belonging to various private bus operators for non-compliance of safety norms. Transport authorities had announced that operators running buses without emergency exits will not be allowed by ply from May 1.
Suresh Sharma of Sharma Transport said they suspended services of a dozen buses after RTO officials conducted checks in Kalasipalayam late on Thursday night and seized several buses. The services of over 150 buses were suspended leading to chaos in Kalasipalayam and Majestic areas from where majority of private buses operate, sources added.
The drive will continue for a week and private bus services may be badly affected for the same reason, transport officials said.
However, KSRTC buses were unchecked as they have managed to comply with safety norms.
Source: Times of India