BANGALORE: Despite two fire accidents killing 52 bus passengers in less than a fortnight, the Karnataka government hasn’t cracked down on putting safety measures in place.
What’s worse, transport minister R Ramalinga Reddy has given private operators three months to install emergency exits and one month to show videos or give oral instructions to passengers on measures to be taken during emergencies before every journey.
Appalled at this lethargy, urban and transport experts point out that the mandatory provision for emergency exits is not new — the government is only ensuring effective implementation of an existing rule. A press note issued by the commissioner of transport and road safety said emergency exits have to be in accordance with Rule 128(4) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989.
Experts say most buses come with emergency exits but operators have installed more seats which cut off access to them or, in some cases, have even sealed the exits. All that’s required is to get rid of these seats by removing the bolts and nuts fixing them to the floor, they say.
Urban expert AK Pani said steps such as video or oral demos to passengers on safety should start immediately. “The videos are provided to operators when the vehicles are delivered. Why do they need one month to start using them?” he asked.
