RTO to initiate action against rash driving

Mangalore, October 7: Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Mallikarjuna said that the authorities will initiate action against rash driving by the bus drivers.

A sticker with the phone number of the RTO and the police will be pasted in the back of all the buses in Mangalore, to facilitate the pedestrians or vehicle users to register complaint against rash driving.

Speaking at a transport adalat here on Saturday, he said the drive will commence from November. Once the RTO gets complaint, both the complainant and the bus drivers and the owners will be called to find out the genuineness of the complaint. If the complaint was genuine, then the authorities will book a case against the bus driver.

Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike President Hanumantha Kamath said that the KSRTC had sought permits for running City buses from Mangaladevi to Bondel, Mangaladevi to Kunjathbail, Surathkal to Talapady. There are over 100 permit applications submitted by the KSRTC between 2004 and 2010. However, the RTA has failed to issue permits citing DM notification of 1992, which bars the entry of buses to State Bank area. He said the RTA can issue permits for those which do not come within the perview of DM notification.

Seats for senior citizens

Mangalore Citizens Association Secretary Choodamani and former deputy Mayor Judith Mascarenhas urged the RTO to strictly implement the seats reserved for senior citizens and physically challenged.

There are two seats reserved for the elders and physically challenged, but they are either inaccessible or occupied by others. There is a need to sensitise the bus conductors on the issue, to which, the RTO replied positively and said that a sensitisation programme for the bus drivers and conductors has been chalked out by the authorities.

Choodamani urged the RTO to provide a bus facility from Akshabhavan to Kudroli and Surathkal.

Evading routes

John Rodrigues said that a few buses are not following the bus routes properly. Citing the example of Hampankatta-Saripalla bus, he said that the bus is not following the designated route during non peak hours and are forcing the passengers to get down from the bus at Kadri, to which, the RTO promised to initiate action.

Someshwar GP former member Ismail said that the bus operators threaten commuters if they file complain against the bus operators. KSRTC bus should be introduced to Someshwar and Ullal, he said.

The RTO said that if the bus operators threaten the complainant, then it is an offence, which should be brought to my notice. “I will initiate action against them,” he said.

Honking drivers to face music

When a citizen said that inspite of repeated appeals, the bus drivers continue to honk, at Ambedkar Circle in Mangalore, the RTO?said that it is a school zone and honking is strictly prohibited.

“The students and the public have been bearing the brunt of noise pollution. Though the shrill and multi-tune horns had been removed, they have again come back,” he regretted.

The RTO directed the inspector to suspend the license of those drivers who are found honking in the vicinity.