Coimbatore: More accidents taking place on city roads and bus drivers being constantly blamed for them indicates the need for increasing the running time for buses in general and town buses in particular.

The running times for buses were fixed at least two to three decades ago based on the conditions that prevailed then.

But today, increase in population has resulted in the vehicular population also burgeoning by leaps and bounds.

However, the bus drivers have a different argument. The road space is shrinking owing to encroachments.

Increased vehicle movement on roads has also reduced the running speed of the buses considerably.

In addition, traffic snarls and increase in number of traffic signals also add up.

The other factor is the number of bus stops.

Owing to excessive patronage to public transportation system, the buses need to stop at bus stops to allow more time for passengers to get down and for those waiting, to get into buses.

In addition, at every bus stop, drivers require time for slowing down, stopping and speeding up again.

Drivers also pointed out that loss of time in covering the route length would lead to loss of a single trip and if the bus had to skip bus stops, then collection revenue goes down and the bus crew are pulled up and punished for the same.

At the same time despite traffic conditions, the drivers are also compelled to ensure fuel efficiency.

As a result, the drivers avoid punishment and indulge in unsafe driving practices. Every town bus covers a route length of 20 km to 35 km.

Route length

For covering a route length of a town bus, the time fixed long ago is inadequate today. Secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, K. Kathirmathiyon pointed out that every town bus requires at least an upward revision of at least 20 minutes so that the crew could reach the destination without hasty, rash or negligent driving.

The authorities should undertake a case study of the allotted running time and actual running time of buses on route numbers such as 1C, 2, 3, 5 and 7 especially during peak hours.

The issue has been discussed threadbare at length at many of the Road Safety and Traffic Advisory meetings held at the Collectorate.

In fact the decision taken and orders issued for the same remain as they are without any further action on the same. Some of the town buses are not entering the Gandhipuram Town Bus Stand but resorting to unauthorised stoppage near the bus stand.

TNSTC authorities cite the timing as a problem since buses would have to go through two signals.

Revision of running time is a prudent and essential measure for ensuring road safety, Mr.Kathirmathiyon said.

Similarly, even the mofussil buses lose considerable time in wading through the city traffic and the drivers tend to display impatience on the roads.

However, the issue of revising the running time of mofussil buses could not be taken up by the transport department officials at the local level, since it required co-ordination with the respective Regional Transport Authorities as well as with the State Transport Authority.

There is nothing that prevents the local authorities from acting on running time revision for town buses, Mr.Kathirmathiyon added.

The officials said that the machinery was aware of the problem and preliminary steps were ready taken and only it needs to be implemented.

Courtesy - The Hindu