The Hindu 02.09.2009
Speed limit on city buses enforced
Staff Reporter
| Traffic, transport officials hold meet with vehicle owners |
GUNTUR: The Guntur traffic police at last have put brakes on mad max driving of city buses by limiting the maximum speed to 30 k.m. per hour. At a meeting here with the city bus fleet owners on Tuesday, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Town) B. Koteswara Rao and Traffic C.I K. Srinivasa Rao made it clear that the bus owners would have to comply with the speed limit and ensure the safety of passengers and pedestrians in the city.
“The fleet owners agreed to install speed locks in buses within a couple of days and comply with the RTA rules,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao said.
The police and transport officials also said the buses would need complete fitness and all damaged tyres should be changed immediately.
The total number of city buses has risen to 90 this year and continue to be a viable public transport system with a large number of students and employees utilising their services. But after a spate of road accidents, concerns had been raised over the safety and fitness of the buses, most of them purchased from Tamilnadu. At a meeting held recently, the drivers blamed the owners for putting pressure to cover the routes quickly. One driver said a fleet owner had asked him to cover the route from Bus Stand to S.V.N Colony in 30 minutes, while the speed permitted by the Road Transport Authority is one hour.
The Traffic Inspector said the Guntur Municipal Corporation would shortly erect 15 bus bays and all the buses would have to stop at the bays and avoid causing inconvenience to public.
