‘Our good work is not highlighted’

RP SINGH DISTRICT TRANSPORT OFFICER

JALANDHAR: Even though the state transport department has laid down strict guidelines for public transportation most of the transporters are brazenly flouting norms. Keeping this in mind HT grills the district transport officer RP Singh on issues regarding passenger’s safety and violation of norms in the district. Transporters, especially private, have for long flouted mandatory guidelines on use of black films, curtains and pressure horns but the transport department swung into action only after the Moga bus incident, why? We issue 20 to 30 challans on average per month to buses and trucks. Last month, I have issued five challans to private buses for using pressure horns and curtains. These campaigns were not highlighted by the media but our department is doing its best to control violations.

Despite special campaign against buses, your department has failed to control violations? Why? Following the directions

issued by the transport secretary, almost all the buses removed black films and pressure horns. Besides, a meeting with all transport owners of the district was held a few days back and we asked them to make sure that their buses follow all mandatory transportation norms and warmed them of strict action otherwise.

What kinds of steps is your department taking to curb the violations by the private transporters as deterrents for cases such as the recent Moga incident? Our department is planning to install CCTV cameras in bus stand premises and also issue direction

to all buses owners to display their official numbers inside buses. Moreover, a special campaign was launched on Friday, following directions from the higher authorities. Also, the DTO issued around 70 challans to both private and government buses in the Jalandhar and Kapurthala district.

Government bus drivers complain about mismanagement of schedule by the transport department giving extra advantage to private operators. What are your comments?

I have no knowledge about such an issue. Moreover, this is the duty of the regional transport authority. It has to prepare schedules and ensure that buses ply according to them.

DTO launched a campaign in March against school buses to make them safer, but this was also stopped few weeks ago. Why?

We are taking appropriate steps to make the school managements aware and insure the safety of children in the school buses. A meeting is also planned with all school managements on May 20.