DTC buses claimed 83 lives last year

In 2011, DTC buses killed 83 people — pedestrians, cyclists and bikers — in comparison to 52 in 2010, an increase of almost 60%.

The increased number of DTC buses on Delhi roads has a flip side too. With better frequency of buses, the number of people who came under its wheels has also gone up. In 2011, DTC buses killed 83 people — pedestrians, cyclists and bikers — in comparison to 52 in 2010, an increase of almost 60%.

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While the public transport corporation covered 37.38 crore km with a fleet of 6,229 buses in 2011, it had done 25.43 crore km with 6,200 buses in 2010. DTC’s fleet of 6,229 buses include 3,775 air-conditioned (AC) and non-AC low floor buses.

Interestingly, unlike previous years when most who fell victim were boarding or de-boarding the bus, a number of pedestrians and even bikers who were either talking on mobile phone or were listening to music were crushed under the DTC buses.

Senior DTC officials, however, accept that there is an increase in the complaints of rash driving and over-speeding against its drivers, prompting them to take immediate precautionary measures.

“While we have managed to check cases of rash driving and over-speeding in low floor buses by installing GPS, we have constituted special teams that randomly check buses on roads. We have penalised several drivers and conductors for violating rules,” Delhi transport minister Arvinder Singh said, adding that there is a focus on special refresher training and on-wheel training to correct driving habits of drivers.

“We imparted refresher training to 10,188 drivers and one day capsule course during to 4,820 drivers in 2011. It has started showing results,” senior manager (PR) Sharat Kumar said.

“Drivers are also counselled regularly and their duty hours have also been regularised so that they don’t feel fatigued,” the transport minister said.