Poor show by BMTC drivers

Despite many efforts and initiatives to improve driving skills of drivers of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), results have not matched the expectations. According to data available, this year (till December) 82 people have died in various accidents involving BMTC buses.The number of deaths recorded last year was also 82.

The BMTC, which has been under fire from various quarters for accidents caused by buses, has introduced a number of measures to improve driving skills of its drivers. From bringing in faculty of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, to conduct educative counselling sessions and introducing serene hobbies such as yoga sessions, the BMTC took many initiatives to bring down the number of accidents on roads.

Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Praveen Sood accepted that there has been no significant change in the number of accidents after training, though, he added "The accidents are caused due to a number factors such as human factor and condition of the road".

For the full report in the New Indian Express, click here.

The major complaint against Blueline services in Delhi, as also the bus services in cities like Kochi and Mangalore (operated by private sector players), has also been rash driving, largely. A comparison of the record of the lot against BMTC's record on this factor, would make an interesting study.

On questions of frequency, affordability, connectivity provided, cleanliness, etc, I would rate the Mangalore and Kochi services (with which I am familiar), fairly good (I can't say that about BMTC, though). And, I am sure, if unnecessary controls on them are removed, and their operations facilitated, just by providing a level playing field even, they will measure up to meet the rising demands, which government monopolies can never hope to satisfy by themselves. For more on that, click here.

Now, even as the above report paints a rather gloomy picture, what is shocking is the continuance in service of a driver, who reportedly was suffering from fits, and had even tendered his resignation on account of that. But, apparently, the BMTC officials ignored it, and continued him in service. The relevant excerpts from the New Indian Express report reads as below (the full report may be accessed here):

A conductor of a BMTC bus died after the bus driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a shop in Jayanagar on Thursday morning. The driver lost the control near Vaishali Circle and crossed the footpath before hitting a shop. The police said no passengers were present during the incident. The driver, who suffers from fits, had recently tendered his resignation.

Rather bizarre goings on!

Muralidhar Rao