The 35-minutes prescribed for the bus operated from Broadway to Mylapore was fixed 3 decades back
Average carrying capacity - 958 passengers per bus per day. (Photo: DC)
Chennai: Don't just blame the crew if the driver of a metropolitan transport corporation (MTC) bus you travel in burns extra gas a little further to make up for time loss? More than the traffic and narrow lanes, it is the system of MTC that probably forces them to push the vehicle beyond the level of passenger's convenience. At least, that is what MTC drivers and conductors allege.
The last time the corporation, then Pallavan transport corporation, did a detailed planning development (journey time of buses on all routes) study was in 1985. The 35-minutes prescribed for the bus operated from Broadway to Mylapore was fixed three decades back. A similar study was believed to be conducted a decade back in 2005, but the report was not made public for reasons known only to the transport authorities, alleged K. Natarajan, general secretary of DMK backed Government Transport Corporation Employees Progressive Union Federation.
"Just consider the number of traffic signals, two-wheelers and cars that had come up in the city since 1985. There were hardly any cars or bikes in the 1980s. Now the roads are mostly jampacked. Imagine driving on Anna Salai, especially crossing Central and Teynampet during peak hours. How can you keep time? We are still following the time scheduled set 30 years back," complained a MTC driver preferring anonymity.
Add the diversions enforced by traffic police for various festivals and meetings and ongoing metro rail works that have narrowed the arterial Anna Salai and Poonammalee High Road; officials ought to literally double the journey time, remarked another driver Broadway-Guindy route attributing high level of stress of the bus experience by the bus crew and accidents caused therefore to punctuality pressure.
"Why would we (driver) drive rash despite knowing that we mostly face definite suspension after committing an accident and would lose pay indefinitely till reinducted in a route even after revocation of suspension after a month," wondered another driver recalling how Velachery, which was not even in MTC route map two decades back, has now become an area with very high patronage.
When asked, officials admitted to not doing a scientific study, but however said that they have periodically revised the bus timings.
"Their allegation is unfounded. If buses on a given route consistently turn up late, we study and revise the timings," the officer explained wondering if the drivers who belong to the all-powerful trade unions would operate under old time if pushed.
( Source : dc )
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