Mangalore, Dec 21: Youngsters who experience sexual harassment must report the matter to the RTO said C Mallikarjuna, Regional Transport Officer, Mangalore.
Speaking on 'Road Safety' at a programme organized by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Mangalore on Friday, the RTO said that the incidents of sexual harassments are not confined to metros.
Citing example of the recent Delhi gang rape incident, he said that it took place inside a bus and there might be instances of persons misbehaving with women in buses even in place like Mangalore.
“In case of any such harassment by the bus staff or in general, victims need not keep quiet. They can report the matter to the RTO. Note down the number of the vehicle and if possible the name of the driver of the bus and report it to us. If the bus staff is found to be guilty, we will cancel their permit”, he said.
The RTO came down heavily on people who get their vehicles registered in Pondicherry and said that they must not mistake the court judgement in this regard to justify their actions. “The judgement is purely for vehicles of central government employees and not for the ordinary citizens”, he said. The Department has also brought an amendment in the rules now whereby officers in Karnataka are also required to pay lifetime tax, he added.
Full-fledged pre-paid auto centres from Jan 1
Mr. Mallikarjuna that the pre-paid auto rickshaw centre at Kankanady junction will be operational on January 1 or 2. “Two pre-paid centres are already functioning in the city. The third one at Kankanady junction was supposed to have started two months ago but since Corporation Bank authorities took time in setting up kiosks, there was a delay”, he said.
Mr. Mallikarjuna also released the electronic 'simputer' device on the occasion which would be used for billing in all the three centres from January 1.
Doors in the middle portion for buses
Responding to a query on the height of stairs in buses causing inconvenience to people, Mr. Mallikarjuna said that plans of introducing doors in the middle portion of buses rather than the front and rear portions is being given a thought.
“Mangalore is a place where you have many ups and downs and the roads are not level in most areas. Since the front and rear portions of the bus' body touch the ground while going downhill or climbing up respectively, it becomes inevitable for us to raise the height of the bus' body which results in the staircase being elevated. However, we are contemplating to introduce doors in the middle portion of the buses to see if that can solve the problem”, he said.
People have to be cooperative
Mr. Mallikarjuna said that people need to step their level of traffic law abidance to make sure that there is better road safety and traffic sense. “One traffic policeman cannot handle all vehicles. Every month about 6,000 new vehicle registrations take place. It is difficult to monitor each and every one.
Individuals also need to be aware of their duty and abide by the traffic laws. In spite of Mangalore having a high literacy rate, we find people parking vehicles in no-parking zones and violating the U-turn rules. Even with CCTV cameras, we find that traffic violations are taking place. People point fingers at bus drivers for honking but car drivers and two wheeler riders also are to be blamed. Please do not alter the default settings of a new vehicle like the horn and headlights”, he said.
Mohammed Ameen, President, KCCI, Nigam B Vasani, Vice President, Jeevan Saldanha, Secretary, were present.
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