Bus owners and drivers in Bengal often violate safety norms
Shanthanu Bhattachaarya
February 14, 2010 Frequent bus accidents in Calcutta proved that democratically elected Marxist government in West Bengal failed to keep its promise.Bengal government earlier promised to ban owners from paying the drivers and conductors through commission and introduce monthly salary symtem.According to experts,it is one of the main reasons why buses compete each other to pick up passengers.But Marxist government of Bengal failed to convince unions and strong transport lobby that enjoy tremendous political patronage.Bengal government now wants to strictly implement Supreme Court’s order for all heavy commercial vehicles fitted with speed governor.The speed governor,a device that is attached to the engine which will ensure that vehicles do not cross the speed limit.Even if the driver want to cross the speed limit,the speed governor prevents him to cross the limit(for buses 50 km per hour).Bus owners and drivers in Bengal often violate safety norms and basic traffic rules and bribe officials for fitness certificates.Whenever a major bus accident occurred , Bengal government announced some major steps to prevent bus accident.But unfortunately,everything remains the same.
On July 4,2009, a speeding minibus lost control while overtaking another bus from the wrong side on a railway bridge off Howrah railway station , broke through the concrete railings and dropped 35 feet onto the railway tracks, killing 11 passengers.On April 4,2008,a private bus drowned in the Lower Bagjola Canal in the northern fringes of Calcutta killing 21 people.The victims of the accident included a six month baby and a 80 year old.On May 27,2002,atleast 46 people died when the bus plunged into a road side pond at Chowbagha, about 22 miles(35 km) from Calcutta.But the drivers get bail due to legal loopholes soon after their arrest and they think that powerful union protects them.Recently(July 4),a minibus tumbled off a bridge killing twelve people force transport department to implement motor vehicles act seriously.
