Days after a college student was hit by a bus at Kempegowda Bus Stand (KBS), the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) took on the task of deterring passengers from jaywalking, while also planning a slew of measures to popularise the use of skywalks in the busy bus station.
Dressed in khaki, the staff members had their task cut out. With a large crowd traversing through the city’s busiest transit point, many did not pay heed to the safety advice and preferred to cross the road.
Moreover, with many alighting or getting off the buses at the entrance of the bus stand itself, staff members were seen struggling to convey their safety message.
On Monday morning, Poornima (17), a first year PU student of Mount Carmel College, was hit by a BMTC bus while crossing over to her bus stand.
The bus station sees nearly 22 buses entering every minute. Eight lakh passengers are estimated to be traversing through the premises daily. On Wednesday, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao visited the spot and ordered the BMTC to construct skywalks with elevators to increase usage of the facility by commuters.
“Barricades will also be erected in medians all along to ensure that passengers do not jaywalk in the roads of the bus stand,” said Mr. Reddy.
To popularise the use of skywalks even during the rains, the ministers directed BMTC to construct shelters on the currently-open pedestrian crossing.
Hawkers will be regulated in the busy pedestrian underpass going under Dhanvanthri Road by constructing shops on one side, the minister said.
Suo motu case
Upa Lokayukta Subhash B Adi on Wednesday took a suo motu case against BMTC and Traffic Police.
He asked them to furnish details of what they had done to ensure pedestrian safety. BMTC has also been asked to explain how they are dealing with errant drivers.
