Kochi: A massive drive was launched by the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) against private city service buses and line bus services that do not have doors at their exits. They have booked 232 buses running in the city limits in the past two weeks.
Officials said that buses that have doors but are kept open permanently, were also booked for violation of Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules. According to sub-rule (2) of the rule 280 of the Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules, every door of the stage carriage shall be provided with shutters which can be opened from inside as well as outside.
In 2016, the rule was implemented in the wake of increase in number of accidents when the buses ply without doors. However, the order was stayed for almost two years. Recently the High Court dismissed the petition of the bus operators’ association challenging the amendment of the rule which makes door mandatory in stage carriers and the MVD officials started the inspection on buses.
“However, the buses are continuing to violate the rule even after cases were registered against many buses. So this drive will continue. A special drive will be held on Wednesday also,” an official with the MVD said. “They do this because they can cut the cost of employing a person for operating the doors. Due to the accidents caused by lack of doors, the passengers have also demanded pneumatic doors rather than manual ones,” the official added. They also said that the proceedings are initiated against the owners or permit holders that have violated the rules.
