KOZHIKODE: As the Transport Department prepares to implement the amendment in the Motor Vehicles Act, making it mandatory for city buses also to have doors, the bus operators in the district say that it is not practical for them to hire more staff to keep a check on the doors. Instead, they prefer automatic central doors that can be operated by the driver himself.
In the wake of many accidents involving schoolchildren, the Kerala State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) had directed the Transport Commissioner and Transport secretary to amend the rule that permits city service buses to ply without doors.
“According to the new notification from the department, it clearly states that ‘the words, except in the case of town and city services shall be omitted’. From July 1, the amended rule will become functional, offering more safety to passengers, especially students, who are forced to travel in crowded buses,” said KeSCPCR member Nazeer Chaliyam, who forwarded the suggestion.
Kozhikode Bus Operators Association joint secretary Mohammed MKP said that if they fixed doors on buses, they would have to hire at least one person extra, to guard the doors. “The doors in city buses were removed, considering slow speed and to avoid accidents due to left overtaking. We prefer central doors like in the low-floor buses, so that the drivers can operate them, without hiring an extra staff member,” said Mr Mohammed.
Regional transport officer K. Premanandan said that the notification should come as an order from the commissioner. Though a July 1 deadline had been given to the buses to fix doors, a few days relaxation could be provided on request, he added.
