Coimbatore: A private bus 'Gokulam S2' operating in the Uppilipalayam area was held by the public for violating orders issued by the District Collector K Rajamani.
Coimbatore: A private bus 'Gokulam S2' operating in the Uppilipalayam area was held by the public for violating orders issued by the District Collector K Rajamani.
Uppilipalayam residents have reportedly complained several times regarding the private bus menace on roads and have even resorted to stopping these private buses, thus leading up to scuffles with the drivers and conductors who block the road, daily. The irate residents who had given up on complaining to Regional Traffic Officials then decided to escalate the issue to the District Collector K Rajamani.
Thereafter, based on the orders of the District Collector, local transport authorities imposed fines on buses that violated the rules. The private buses followed rules for a while but have reportedly again reverted to flouting rules. Meanwhile, K Rajamani had sternly warned both Government and private buses to operate as per rules. He also issued a directive that stated that the Traffic Police Department and the Regional Transport Officers should ensure public safety as well as take stringent measures under the 1988 Motor Traffic Act on buses that operate in violation of regulations.
In spite of the Collector's order, a bus at Uppilipalayam violated rules and did not stop to pick up passengers at a regular bus stop. The enraged public in Uppilipalayam stopped the bus 'Gokulam S2,' held it captive and immediately informed the police. The public relented to let go of the bus only after the police assured them that action would be taken against the bus owners. This incident has highlighted public outrage over private bus violations on the very first day of the District Collector's order to prevent buses operating in the city from violating rules.
Private buses operating in Coimbatore district have a reputation of flouting rules like not stopping at regular bus stops, more than four conductors employed for one bus and travelling on the foot board, taking the seats allocated for women, harassing passengers, playing vulgar songs loudly and so on. These buses have been pulled up for over speeding and honking loudly. When passengers have raised concerns regarding the same, most often they have been intimidated by thugs in these buses and even attacked for voicing their protests, which have caused the public in the city to avoid travelling by private buses.
It has also been reported that both the police and Regional Transport Officers who are the sole authority to stop these violations have not initiated proper action against these private bus operators and hence the atrocities have been on the rise. While the police have filed a few cases against these buses, the Regional Transport Officials are said to have turned a deaf ear to the complaints of the public regarding private buses.