Mini-buses to clear way for better models

The transport department has come up with a policy to replace mini buses with better buses, which will be more stable on roads.

Accident-prone mini buses will soon be on their way out.

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The transport department has come up with a policy to replace mini buses with better buses, which will be more stable on roads.

Mini-buses connect densely populated and congested residential localities with railway stations and inter-state bus terminals.

Senior transport department officials said that operators had been told to bring in their rickety, ageing mini-buses, so they can be replaced with new buses.

"Since the mini-buses are meant for rural areas and are not fit for urban roads, we will not give permits to those models any more. Operators will have to replace those buses with new superior models, which have been manufactured keeping the urban road conditions in mind," said a senior transport department official. Most operators, said officials, have made illegal changes to the body of the buses, making them more vulnerable on roads.

Senior officials said the decision to replace mini-buses was taken in July 2010.