Buses involved in fatal accidents in Kerala will lose their license for 6 months

Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar file photo Photo Credit: The Hindu

In view of the recent fatal accidents in Kerala, the state transport department has decided to cancel the permits of private buses involved in fatal accidents for six months.

Speaking to the media after a high-level meeting of Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) officials here on Tuesday (December 17, 2024), Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar said arrangements have already been made to cancel the license of negligent bus drivers. Driving.

Likewise, in case of a fatal accident, the license of the private bus will be suspended for 6 months. The minister said that if a person is seriously injured in a bus accident, the permit will be suspended for three months.

This decision was taken in a meeting with the representatives of the private bus operator’s association. Minister Bhattarai said that competition between private bus operators is the main cause of private bus accidents in the state.

Since there is no procedure for the appointment of staff in private buses in the state, the department has decided to make police certification mandatory for the appointment of drivers and co-drivers in private buses.

Also, private bus employees will be given regular training on how to deal with passengers. Private bus operators have been instructed to provide a phone number on the bus so that the general public can voice their complaints regarding bus operation. If the bus operators fail to address the complaints, MVD will take action against such buses.

A meeting of private bus operators has decided to geotag buses using GPS (Global Positioning System) technology to end competition between private buses. They were given three months to geotag the bus. If they fail to complete the exercise on time, the MVD will take the lead to geotag the buses, the minister said.

Strict action will be taken against buses that cut the last journey at night. Private bus operators have also been instructed to conduct the final journey in turn within a week.

The department has decided to strengthen enforcement inspections on identified major black spots on the state’s roads. There were 16 black spots on the Palakkad-Kozhikode route, and these would be rectified immediately, the minister said.

The minister also accused the Center of turning a blind eye to Kerala’s demands. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari was not ready to listen to the state’s demands and even give sick loans when he visited New Delhi along with a team of transport department officials, the minister said.

The Centre’s vehicle scrapping policy will adversely affect Kerala including the vehicles of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and many state departments. For example, Fire and Rescue Service fire engines registered at less than 50,000 km should now be decommissioned as per the policy. Minister Bhattarai said that the state is looking for financial support to solve the crisis caused by the policy.