It is an accident that is still deeply etched in the minds of residents. In 2012 when a young school girl fell through a gaping hole in the floor of her school bus and died, the incident sent shockwaves in the city, with the government waking up to the risks posed by ill-maintained buses.
The condition of the floors in some of the State-owned-and-maintained buses, too, is a cause for concern. Recently, after boarding a Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus, a commuter, while standing beside the driver’s seat, was shocked to feel the floor sink a couple of inches, exposing the road beneath.
Though the floor of the bus (route no. M11) did not cave in, it was enough to cause concerns about passenger safety among the commuters.
The bus (fleet number CRI 1249) is attached to the corporation’s depot at Chromepet, where the central and body building workshops are also located. The workshops have a reputation of fabricating some of the finest coaches for government buses.
A former senior official says the poor maintenance of MTC buses has always been an issue frequently brought up by passengers as well as activists. “A bus undergoes weekly tests, quarterly maintenance and undergoes thorough checks before fitness certificates are renewed once in six months,” he says, adding that despite this, defects remain.
“Shortage of staff and, more importantly, inadequate importance given to maintenance continue to plague State government corporations,” the officer adds.
*****
On paper, the law is equally applicable to all, but on the road it seems to be not so.
While an autorickshaw driver may be fined by transport officials for overloading, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses will not face any action for carrying more than the allowed number of passengers.
The MTC bus is allowed to carry only 73 passengers (48 sitting and 25 standing). However, over 100 people travel in a vehicle on some routes during peak hours. While some are squeezed inside, others risk their lives hanging from the footboard and windows of the bus.
“This is in violation of the motor vehicle rules. But for many passengers, it might be the only MTC bus to their destination during peak hour. So, most often, we do not take any action against the government buses,” a transport department official says.
He adds that the vehicle is checked properly when it comes for the fitness check.
However, MTC sources say that overloading will damage the vehicle faster. “The tyres will be damaged and the brakes won’t function properly. By carrying more than the permitted number, the lives of passengers are put to risk,” a source adds.
Passengers suggest increasing MTC’s fleet strength to solve the problem of overloading. They want the government to at least increase the number of small buses.
