Mangalore: Transport Adalat brings to fore several vital issues

Mangalore: Transport Adalat brings to fore several vital issues

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 29, 2014: The DK  District Magistrate (DM) notification of 1992 should be relaxed enabling issue permits for more number of buses to operate from State Bank of India terminus. The notification has been hindering the issue of permits for additional buses to operate from State Bank area to more vital destinations, was the public  demand at the Transport adalat organised at the Mangalore RTO office here on May 28.

 

 

The participants also urged the authorities to issue permits for at least the 70 buses sanctioned to Mangalore division under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM).

Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike President Hanumantha Kamath said that Mangalore city has witnessed a huge change. “The DM notification was issued in 1992 keeping in mind the narrow roads of Mangalore, which could have created traffic congestion if the buses were allowed to State Bank terminus. But, now the roads of Mangalore have been widened, enabling the free flow of traffic.” Further, he said that if a bus has the capacity to carry 40 passengers, they are overloaded at peak hours, and carry passengers double the capacity.

The KSRTC had sought permits for operating buses outside the DM notification, which too has not been considered. RTO Afzal Ahammed Khan said that the proposal to relax DM notification will be placed in the RTA meeting.

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Physically Handicapped Persons’ Association Vice President Nagesh Shetty said that bus passes for physically challenged should be applicable for inter-state buses and limited travelling distance of 100 km should be removed, to which, the KSRTC official said that the demand will be brought to the notice of the KSRTC headquarters. The number of KSRTC buses to Mudipu and Talapady should be increased.

Hasanabba Ammembala, a citizen, accused the bus operators in rural areas of cutting the trips on Sunday, causing inconvenience to the villagers, to which, the RTO directed the bus owners not to cut the trips.

Playing loud music beyond certain decibel level is prohibited, bus drivers are violating the law, to which, the RTO directed the bus owners to sensitise the bus drivers and conductors on reserving seats for senior citizens and handicapped persons.  The loud music should be avoided, as people cant speak on mobiles too. Certain type of Indian music only must be allowed in reasonable way  without disturbing. Choodamani, a senior citizen, said that the seats reserved for senior citizens and handicapped are occupied by others and buses are subjecting commuters to loud music on the road. Spitting from bus must be prohibited by notices. The bus crew should be held responsible.

Computerised driving test track for Mangalore:

The process to set up computerised driving test tracks in Mangalore has been initiated with the transport department handing over Rs five crore to acquire 10 acre land at Mudipu on the outskirts of the city.

The RTO said that the work on preparing estimate and blue print of the project can be initiated as soon as the land is transferred. In the 10 acre land, vehicle inspection field and a government training centre will come up.

When Mohammed Naseer, the President of Sajipanadu GP, raised the issue of service bus conductors misleading the passengers on the destination, the RTO said that bus owners should display the destination board clearly.

On Puducherry registrated vehicles, the RTO said that the authorities have recovered the taxes from the vehicles. However, it takes more than one year to change the registration number as it is a long process.

Auto drivers association raised the issue of auto parking in the MCC limits, the RTO said that the MCC has to identify the land. After identifying the land, the issue will be discussed at a meeting.
Deputy Commissioner (Transport) (Shimoga division) H Raghunath said that a rented building for Surathkal RTO office has been identified. The process to start the RTO office has been delayed owing to shortage of staff. The registration number for Surathkal RTO will be KA 62.