Bengaluru: Following Mahabubnagar and Haveri bus fire tragedies, the state transport department has made emergency doors compulsory in all state registered buses.
Further, it has also asked Volvo company to install emergency doors in all its existing buses in the state. In reply, the company has told the state government that it would do it within three months.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy informed that the transport department had set several guidelines to be followed by all buses in the state. “We have made changes in the guidelines to ensure that all the buses are equipped with emergency exit doors.
A meeting with all private transport operators was held and they have been instructed to strictly adhere to the department guidelines. The department will make all necessary amendments to the rules in this regard immediately,” Reddy said.
As far as Volvo buses are concerned, the KSRTC will make the required changes at it's workshop while private bus owners would have to work out the costs with the company. “Hereafter, the Volvo buses will also display a safety video for passengers before commencement of the journey.
While in other buses, the passengers will be explained about emergency exits by driver or conductor. First aid kits have to be there in all buses and the private operators have been told to install a separate seat for spare driver to sleep," Reddy added.
Further, he said that the government was firm on April 1 deadline for buses registered in the state to install speed governors limiting the speed of the vehicle to 80 km/hr. “Following the recent tragedies, the transport department officials, who conducted special drives, had booked 2,851 cases for violation of guidelines and had seize around 148 buses besides collecting fine amount to the tune of Rs 62 lakh,” Reddy said.
