Transport department seizes 39 air horns

COIMBATORE: The transport department cracks whip on vehicles using air horns and have seized over 39 air horns. A team of officials including the assistant director, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, four RTO inspectors and officials went on a joint inspection to the Mettupalayam bus stand on Thursday.
"We inspected over 143 buses of which 39 buses were found to be using air horns," said P Muruganandam, joint transport commissioner (in-charge)."Of these, 21 were corporation buses and 18 were private buses," he added.
Last month, a similar inspection was conducted at Gandhipuram bus stand where over 40 air horns were seized. "As per the Motor Vehicle Act 119(2), air horns have been banned. We have registered cases against vehicles which had horns with 85-105 decibel capacity as these are not permitted," said an RTO official. He added that apart from public nuisance, prolonged exposure to sound above 90 decibels can cause permanent hearing damage.
"We have been conducting surprise checks every month for the past seven months. We hope to curb it completely in the city," said N Karthikeyan, regional transport officer, South.
We will submit the action report to the district collector and later, fines will be imposed on the violators. "Generally, the fine is Rs1,500 per vehicle," said an RTO officer.