The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), which is in news for wrong reasons, this time for the alleged rape attempt by one of its drivers, has decided to strictly enforce the rule that no bus would ply without a conductor, for which a circular was issued in December last.
“If the conductor is present in the bus, the chances of such incidents would be less,” said BMTC Managing Director Anjum Parvez, and added the corporation would take steps to increase public confidence in the BMTC.
They include compulsory alcometer test for drivers before getting behind the wheel, strict vigil to stop operation of conductor-less buses and implementing suggestions from the public, among others.
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Mr. Parvez told
Two suspended As a first step, the traffic inspector and the traffic controller concerned who sent the bus without the conductor have been placed under suspension, though their intentions were honest, he said.
There would be more dialogue with BMTC’s committee on women safety as well as public on enhancing safety measures, he added.
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Earlier incident The accused driver-cum-conductor, Siddarth, was earlier allegedly involved in a similar incident with a woman colleague. While the police case is under progress, the woman employee allegedly turned hostile in the departmental inquiry and denied the incident.
However, the corporation has not accepted this report and ordered a fresh inquiry. He is still a trainee, Mr. Parvez said.
Alcohol detection Mr. Parvez said though BMTC depots were provided with alcometers, they were used randomly on suspicion. Now authorities would be directed to compulsorily check all the drivers before they start work.
Siddarth was said to have been under the influence of alcohol on Thursday night.