The Hindu

Mangalore, Mar 3: Officials of the Regional Transport Office here seized spare tyres from inside some private buses on Tuesday. They also seized some bundles of bus tickets, which were not printed in proper format.

Regional Transport Officer J. Purushotham led the operation, following complaints from people at the transport adalat convened on February 25 by V. Ponnuraj, Chairman of the Regional Transport Authority.

It was G. Hanumantha Kamath, president, Nagarika Hitarakshana Samithi, who had said during the adalat that spare tyres kept near the rear entrance of some buses were making it difficult for passengers to occupy the back seat. He had also complained that tickets issued in some private buses did not have names of operators and other details. They were not printed in proper format. Hence, passengers found it difficult to produce these tickets as proof while filing complaints with the RTA for deficient service.

On Tuesday, Mr. Purushotham himself seized some bundles of bus tickets and put markings on the seized tyres.

Mr. Purushotham told The Hindu that 25 cases had been booked and 10 tyres seized on Tuesday.

Register

Mr. Ponnuraj had told the adalat that a register would henceforth be kept at the Regional Transport Office for people to make specific complaints against bus drivers and conductors. “If there are frequent complaints against any driver, the RTA will take action against him, including cancellation of driving licence,” he had said.

The State Government had also directed the regional transport offices to open a register each for every bus to record such instances.

The RTA was planning to introduce two cellphone numbers for people to lodge complaints against bus drivers and conductors through SMS. One number would be of a government authority and the other of the bus owners’ association. Complaints should be sent to both the numbers.

Initially, the bus owners would have to take action against the accused at their own level. If they did not succeed, the government authority would intervene. Every complaint would be monitored by the authorities, he said.

“Commuters can take photos of drivers or conductors conversing on cellphones while on duty and produce them before the RTA for action,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioner said that the proposal to install Global Positioning System devices in private buses would be finalised in about two months.