Drivers of Government and private buses continue to put up with the impossible task of operating buses as per timings that were fixed three decades ago.
Running time for buses, both city/town and moffusil, from one destination to another, which was fixed by the Transport Department and Corporation has not been amended to take into account the shrinking road space, increasing vehicular population and increased number of traffic signals. A senior official from Regional Transport Office said the general running time for buses within the city is approximately five minutes to cover two km.
The running time for bus route numbers 1C, 7, 5, 2 and 3 were fixed three decades ago. The road space proved adequate those days with fewer vehicles and less number of traffic signals.
However, in core city police limits, there are about 70 signals today and fully occupied buses have to stop at more bus stops now. This results in substantial time loss, office-bearers of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation running crew unions, affiliated to almost all major parties in the State, said.
Whenever the bus drivers get delayed at signals or traffic snarls, they tend to lose one trip for which they are penalised, lamented Transport Corporation Union office-bearers. This results in road rage among bus drivers and a sense of competition against each other, posing a serious risk and threat to the life of fellow road-users.
In 2003, the Road Safety-cum-Traffic Advisory Committee took serious note of the inadequate running time for buses. Since the revision of running time of the long distance buses involved co-ordination with Transport Department across the State, it was recommended to the Transport Commissioner and State Transport Authority for action.
The district administration resorted to an ad-hoc measure in 2003 by deciding to increase the running time of town/city buses by at least 10 minutes till a complete revision could be taken up. However, it continues to remain on paper.
