Private buses in the district caught skipping scheduled trips, beware. They will now have to install global positioning system (GPS) that will help the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) officials track them down.
The State government will bear the cost of installing GPS. This was decided at a District Road Safety Committee meeting on Saturday chaired by District Collector M.G. Rajamanickam.
The whereabouts of buses that curtail services would also be monitored by the Collector for three months, the meeting decided.
Ernakulam Joint RTO P.N. Venugopal said MVD officials would step up enforcement to keep tab of buses that skip trips, especially during early mornings and late evenings. “Residents’ associations, NGOs and others have been raising complaints at the District Development Committee and other meetings about private buses skipping trips, leaving commuters in the lurch. By installing GPS in buses, MVD officials will also be able to detect overspeeding and buses that operate sans speed governors, through their cell phones.”
The RSC meeting on Saturday also decided to remove hoardings, billboards, flags etc. that hamper traffic and also pose safety hazards to motorists and pedestrians.
Following widespread complaints of accidents due to inadequate pedestrian crossings and absence of reflectors on medians, bridges and road edges, the Collector sought a report from agencies that own different roads. He warned of action against agencies if pedestrian lines were not painted and reflectors not installed within a month.
