The KSRTC management seems to have learnt no lessons even after a spate of accidents that occurred owing to poor maintenance of buses. The latest accident occurred in Mavoor Road, Kozhikode, where a bus caught fire the other day.
The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) stipulates that after five years of service, super fast buses should be changed to local service.
Unfortunately, such buses are being used by the KSRTC management for town-to-town service, fare stage limited stop and ordinary limited stop, giving way to a series of accidents.
According to sources within the KSRTC, even in districts like Kottayam, after five years of running they are still used as super fast buses. “They are supposed to run locally and only for a distance less than 250 km. Because after five years of service, there will be huge wear and tear. If they are being used as town-to-town fare stage Limited Stop or Ordinary Limited Stop, it will have to cover a distance of more than 450 km. To reach their destination, these buses will have to run fast and this also may result in accidents,” they pointed out.
The KSRTC management continued to harp on one string that they do not have enough buses. This troubles not just the passengers but also the drivers, sources pointed out.” The brake liners and other equipment used in buses are of inferior quality. There are several instances where the backside of buses collide. This is because if any buses which are operational need any machinery, they would just adjust it by fitting it with parts from buses in the dock,” the sources pointed out. Most of the buses do not have speed governors, either, they added.
The sources also alleged that the drivers have to bear the brunt to help the conductors. “The promotions for inspectors, ATOs and DTOs are based on the kilometres travelled. The drivers toil on but the profit is reaped by conductors and others. This also affects the security of passengers. The state has only 14 districts but KSRTC has 46 district transport officers (DTOs),” they pointed out.
KSRTC general manager R Sudhakaran refuted these allegations. “A KSRTC bus can be used for 15 years. In the first five years, it can be used as a super fast (fast passenger and above). Then after regulating the speed, it will be used under other categories that come after super fast.”
To a query on the poor maintenance of buses, the official said: “We are doing our duty without fail. There is daily checking and weekly maintenance at every depot. Annual maintenance focus is on getting the fitness certificate,” he pointed out.
News: New Indian Express
