Hyderabad: Though the transport department is seizing buses on the Bengaluru Highway at Alampur, Manopad, Shamshabad and Gagan Pahad, they are not taking over the buses to avoid inconveniencing passengers. The buses are allowed to drop the passengers at the destination before they are seized.
Motor vehicle inspector G. Suresh Reddy, posted at the Alampur checkpost, said the department used to seize buses on the spot earlier. “This was creating inconvenience for the passengers. Sometimes, the checking was held at night. Later, the government instructed the department not to do this,” he said.
Though the Road Transport Authority (RTA) registers cases and seizures, he said, “Now we are sending instructions to the teams at Hyderabad to seize vehicles only after the last passenger gets down,” he said.
Five-hour limit for a driver at night:
The government has asked the transport department to ensure private buses depute a second driver for long-distance services. The Central Motor Vehicle Act specifies that a second driver should be deployed if the journey is beyond five hours at night or eight hours during the day.
Transport principal secretary Sunil Sharma has directed the department to hold special drives and suspend permits of private buses for 15 days if the second driver has not been posted. “For buses registered in other states, we are directed to seize permits followed by recommending suspension,” he said. Mr Sharma has directed officials to insist that private operators register with the registrar of firms to implement labour laws.
