Dissatisfied commuters of private bus service on the up
NTC launches pilot project of installing GPS to monitor errant drivers BUS CREW WARNED, FINED FOR INCOMPLETE JOURNEY
Complaints by private bus commuters to the National Transport Commission (NTC) doubled last year, compared with the previous year, the Commission revealed this week.
NTC Chairman Roshan Gunawardena told the Sunday Times that it received more than 40 complaints a day and that most of the complaints were for overcharging, failure to return the balance of the money tendered and being discourteous to commuters.
He said among other complaints were cases of failure to follow a time table, overloading, operating unroadworthy buses and failure to adhere to traffic rules.
“The increase in complaints has prompted us to launch a system to monitor private bus operations, as we believe that the complaint system alone is not helpful to improve the quality of service,” Mr. Gunawardena said.
He said that the NTC had already launched a pilot project to monitor the bus services . “We can monitor the bus if it exceeds speed limits and also entertain complaints while the bus is plying and try to resolve some of the issues.”
The NTC has fixed GPS (Global Positioning Systems) – a satellite navigation system that provides information on the location. The facility has been provided to about 200 private buses that are being monitored at the NTC
The driver and conductor of a private bus operating between Colombo and Middeniya, which failed to continue its journey to its final destination, were severely warned and ordered to pay the administrative cost of the NTC to inquire into the matter.
He said that the driver and conductor have also been ordered to undergo training to improve the quality of their service.
The bus is also to be fitted with a GPS facility to enable the NTC to monitor the bus. head office in Narahenpita.
“We can monitor the time the bus departs as well as if the bus detours,” he said.
saw first hand the monitoring system in operation on Thursday. One of the buses travelling between Aluthgama and Galle, was caught speeding beyond 100 kmph.
The NTC has the option of warning the driver by contacting him on the transmission equipment.
Mr. Gunawardena added that passengers travelling in buses where the equipment has been fitted, could call NTC on the hotline 1955 and make a complaint. He said this would help resolve issues faster. The usual investigation procedure will follow if they don’t have the GPS facility. “Our target is for all private buses to have the GPS facility by the year end. The owner has to pay only Rs 10,000 while the balance Rs. 25,000 will be met by the NTC,” he added.
Mr. Gunawardena said of the complaints received last year, the NTC resolved a majority of them. More than 40% were settled with a warning or a fine, but a similar number were inconclusive due to lack of sufficient data.
This year, the NTC has received 1,726 complaints to date, of which, inquiries into 890 of them have been concluded.
He also said that the number of NTC inspectors deployed on the roads will be increased shortly.