Specials

Kallada Travels Driver using mobile phone while driving

By Aanavandi

April 25, 2019

Kallada Travels Driver using mobile phone while driving

I’m travelling to bangalore , by kallada bus in the route of Pathanamthitta – Bangalore. The bus is full today. I came to front as i couldn’t sleep inside because of the rash driving. This is the scene I could witness when I sat here for some time. I wish if anybody can reach it to the authority with its seriousness. Driver is so careless and not even hearing the passengers, even a senior lady herself came to the cabin and told to reduce the speed.

Video and Writings – Anto Jose

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has summoned Suresh Kallada, the owner of Kallada Travels, in connection with his employees assaulting the passengers who travelled in his bus on April 21. The commission has demanded the presence of the proprietor during the sitting to be held at the Kozhikode Government Guest House on May 29.

Following the attack on two passengers on board a Kallada bus by the latter’s employees, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has intensified action against bus operators running inter-state fleets illegally.

The MVD on Wednesday launched ‘Operation Night Riders’ to curb illegal bus services to and from the state. It has also decided to ban booking agents, who do not possess LAPT (Licensing of Agent for Passenger Ticketing), from selling bus tickets.

Most luxury buses operating within the state and outside lack the stage carrier permit and ply using the contract carrier permit, which does not allow picking up passengers along the route.

However, legal action cannot directly be taken against bus operators as the tickets are booked by agencies, who, in turn, enter into a contract with the operators. It is in this backdrop that the MVD has decided to act tough against booking agencies. “Many booking agencies operate without the LAPT permit. They have been asked to produce the same, failing which they will not be allowed to operate,” said Joint Transport Commissioner Rajeev Puthalath.

The MVD has also taken action against around 58 buses for violating rules. Of them, 30 have been served stop memos while 28 were slapped with a fine of `40,000 each. Some of the buses were found carrying goods.