BMTC fined Rs 11 lakh for traffic violation

Rash driving, haphazard stopping major offences
BMTC fined Rs 11 lakh for traffic violation
Vijay Times

Wrong parking, which means not parking buses at the designated bus stops, is one of the major traffic violations committed by drivers. Of the Rs 11.11 lakh imposed as fine, the BMTC has paid Rs 5.55 lakh. They have requested us for more time to pay the remaining amount. However , no par ticular time limit has been fixed for the BMTC to pay the fine.

When drivers break traffic rules, the traffic police can’t stop the bus on the spot. If the bus is stopped, it takes time to verify the details of the driver and to impose fines. This inconveniences the commuters. Hence, the number of the bus is noted and notices are served on the BMTC, Saleem informed.

IF you were among those who had, at some point of time, sworn at a Bangalore Metropolitan T ransport Corporation (BMTC) driver for rash driving, here is some good news.

The Police Department has asked the Bangalore Metropolitan T ransport Corporation (BMTC) to shell out a sum of Rs 11.11 lakh as fine for various traffic offences committed by its drivers during the year 2004-05.

A senior police official said that as many as 8,500 cases, including 185 cases of deaths, had been booked against BMTC drivers who had violated various traffic rules. The drivers had flouted the law by indulging in wrong parking, over speeding, rash driving and signal jumping. Some cases had also been registered for their rude behaviour while interacting with the police.

While BMTC officials are busy inducting new buses to the existing fleet of the corporation in a bid to make public transport more appealing to private vehicle users in the City , police officials are concerned about the move as this could lead to a rise in the number of traffic offences .

"Despite our department personnel regularly teaching BMTC drivers about traffic rules, the cases have not come down," the official lamented. "From the comman man’s point of view , the BMTC’s decision to induct more buses to provide better services is a good one. However , at a time when traffic is increasing day-by-day , if more buses are pressed into service, it will definitely add to the congestion. This may lead to an increase in violation of traffic rules by BMTC drivers as driving under these circumstances can be difficult," the official opined.

T alking to BVT , Deputy Commissioner of Police, T raffic (East) M Abdul Saleem said, "There has been an increase in the number of wrong parkings and BMTC drivers are responsible for it." When BVT spoke to BMTC Managing Director U pendra T ripathi, he said, "The fine for the traffic violation will be collected from the driver concerned as it is an offence committed by the driver ." "However , in the case of fatal accidents, the driver is dismissed or suspended. A departmental inquiry is conducted to find out if the driver is guilty or not," he added.

"Some motorists, who lack traffic discipline, make driving difficult and our drivers are under pressure as they have to negotiate densely populated roads," T ripathi alleged.

The official also pointed out that roads were not wide enough in some areas. This, he claimed, had prevented drivers from parking their vehicles at the designated bus stops.

T ripathi blamed the poor state of signal lights in the City . He urged motorists driving two and threewheelers to follow lane discipline as this would help bus drivers.

"As drivers are recruited from all over the state, they are new to this kind of traffic. They take some time to get accustomed to the routes. Hence, we have taken the help of the traffic police. Our corporation invites them to train our drivers on traffic rules," he said.