By Japan K Pathak, Ahmedabad

Bus Rapid Transit System(BRTS) buses in Ahmedabad have killed 26 people in last 6 years in road accidents.

There are two contractors who operate the buses. For each case of fatal accident a contractor is charged Rs 1 lakh fine. Rs 50,000 fine is charged in case of serious injury while Rs 25,000 fine is collected in case of common injury.

BRTS drivers think they are driving government initiated/operated/protected buses and there’s a system(contractor firm/AMC) protecting them if they do any mistake. They are therefore bit fearless.

If any person or vehicle is hit within dedicated BRTS lane, the victim is considered responsible, because he entered BRTS lane illegally. In such cases people who witness the accident attack BRTS buses with stones, and forcibly halt BRTS operation until police force arrives there. But when BRTS buses hit some vehicle at inter junctions or on general road where BRTS traffic meets common traffic, then there’s no excuse. People show escalated anger on such occasions and break windows of BRTS buses.

BRTS buses arrive at traffic inter-junctions in a fashion like bullet fired by gun, or like school children running out of their classes after ringing of bell.

Among all kinds of speeding vehicles on roads of this city, BRTS buses are worst and most dangerous.

Due to their habit of driving buses in speed within dedicated lanes, the drivers have become dangerous for common traffic at inter junctions and general roads.

After 52 accidents in last one year period by BRTS buses, AMC has recently given promise to Gujarat High Court to activate mechanical speed control device in buses so that any bus can run maximum at speed of 50 km/hour. AMC has sought two month time to activate speed limit device in 200-300 buses that are operated at present.

AMC is also going to hold training sessions for drivers. What AMC also needs to do is double the amount of fine every time new accident occurs. So on next fatal accident, charge Rs 1 lakh fine to contractors, but on second such accident charge Rs 2 lakh and so on. AMC also needs to ensure that driver gets harsh punishment in legal system when fatal accident case occurs outside the dedicated lane. At present, the traffic police is seen not punishing speeding BRTS bus on general lane. Start stopping the speeding buses and fining them for reckless driving and creating nuisance. The feeling that we are driving buses that belong to government protected service has to be removed from the minds of drivers.

🗃️ This story is from our archives and may contain outdated information.