E-Paper
Overloaded buses have free run in Ludhiana
Officials from the department of traffic police and district transport office may have claimed their concern for traffic rules and travel safety norms but when it comes to the ubiquitous practice of overloading the buses with passengers, it seems they are least concerned.
Officials from the department of traffic police and district transport office may have claimed their concern for traffic rules and travel safety norms but when it comes to the ubiquitous practice of overloading the buses with passengers, it seems they are least concerned.
Stuffed in the buses like birds in a poultry farm, some passengers are also foisted to stand in the window and are generally seen hanging half in the air. On top of that, when there is no room at all, some don’t mind climbing the rooftop, throwing caution for safety to the wind.
Many times, despite traffic police officials present at the roads, these overloaded buses are rarely stopped by the officials to curb this unsafe practice. This is commonly seen at Bharat Nagar Chowk, Jalandhar Bypass, Pakhowal Road and Gill Road.
On one hand, where people are helpless to travel in these overstuffed buses daily, on the other, some passengers also are of the view that the issue of overloading can be discouraged by passengers themselves. “If a bus has no vacant seats, why board it? Why can’t we wait for the next bus? Until the traffic police is not serious about this issue, the practice will never stop,”said a group of young students.
District transport officer (DTO) Dalwinderjit Singh denied the lack of seriousness among the officials by saying that every 2-3 days, nearly 10 challans are slapped to the buses that are seen promoting this unsafe practice. He added special drives are also conducted to curb overloading.
