The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed the Collector and road transport authorities to check operation of dilapidated buses by the TNSTC in Kanyakumari district a week ago, but the transport corporation still continues to operate condemned buses, according to M. Thomas, president of Kanyakumari Zilla Consumer Protection Centre.
The officials conducted checks and prevented operation of a few of damaged buses, but the buses were again pressed into service following the intervention of peoples’ representatives, Mr. Thomas said here on Tuesday.
The TNSTC (Nagercoil region) is operating about 820 moffusil and town buses from 12 depots. At least 50 per cent of the buses were badly damaged or in a condemned stage.
Most of the town buses being operated in the region were condemned by other TNSTC divisions, Mr. Thomas said.
Roof of most of the buses was leaking. . Recently, the roof of a moving town bus was ripped off near Putheri due to heavy wind, said students of DVD Higher Secondary School.
A regular bus commuter said that Circular Route buses being operated in Parvathipuram were badly damaged with most of the windows and supporting reapers remaining broken.
Seats of many buses were damaged and many in the rear side of the buses were tied with the centre angle for support, the students said.
Buses with damaged roof could be witnessed on Circular Route and Route No. 4B, operating between Nagercoil and Kadukkarai.
When contacted, regional transport authorities said that they had issued notices to two damaged buses in Nagercoil. The buses were repaired by TNSTC authorities and they would be produced before the RTO shortly. The other buses operated in the region were in perfect condition, they claimed.
TNSTC officials maintained that they were undertaking repair works on buses at regular intervals.
News: The Hindu
