Infamous for their reckless driving, these men have now been hired by the OC
Infamous for their reckless driving, these men have now been hired by the OC
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"Who is your latest crush?" They could have asked each other this question. A joke about Delhi's blueline bus drivers that had turned serious. Over the years they became better known asu00a0 'Killers on the road' for their involvement in hundreds of accidents. Now they are back in the hunt.
Bheels of misfortune:u00a0According to the Delhi police records, blueline
buses cause over 100 deaths every year. file pic
The privately-owned buses were phased out in the wake of the Commonwealth Games in the national capital and were replaced by swanky, low-floor DTC buses. Ironically, the government has got the drivers of the same vehicles to ferry CWG athletes and officials.
Sources in the Organising Committee told MiD DAY that out of the 500 drivers provided by the city government, at least 300 had been driving the killer fleet. The private buses were taken off the road from various city routes last month. The buses were painted blue from the original red after it was suggested that the repeated accidents caused by them were due to the colour.
The government had tou00a0 pitch in when the Organising Committee fell short of drivers to ferry the Games officials. Tata Motors had to provide drivers, but the problem erupted when they withdrew over issues of accreditation and haphazard work schedules.
Within 24 hours of the OC approaching the Delhi government for help, the city administration asked the blueline bus operators and school associations to provide their drivers to the Organising Committee.u00a0
But when MiD DAY approached the authorities concerned, they spoke in contrary voices.Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely and Transport Commissioner RK Verma were not available for comment and Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta refused to admit that blueline bus drivers have been provided to the OC. "They were driving school buses not blueline buses," he said.
The Organising Committee went a step further to save the government's skin. "They are all government drivers. We cannot compromise with the security and safety of our esteemed guests," said OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot.
Delhi Bus Ekta Manch president HS Kalra said, "Around three days ago we got a call from the transport department officials to provide drivers for the Commonwealth Games, urgently. I can not say how many drivers have been sent but we had approached individual operators and asked them to send the drivers," he said, adding "It's our responsibility to help the government in crisis."
"Wherever the Games have been organised, public transport have been given importance. Delhi would be the first city where under the pretext of Games, private buses have been taken off the road. But still, we helped because we feel it's the matter of our country's pride and honour," he added.u00a0
Another private bus union leader confirmed to MiD DAY that they were requested by the government to provide drivers.
"The transport minister and transport secretary had requested us to provide drivers for OC. So, those who were out of work were sent for OC duty," said TR Khera, a private bus union leader.
Delhi government had come out with an order last month, stating that bluelines would not ply on the routes where Games activity is on. The government has stopped the operations of blueline buses on 68 routes and curtailed 71 bus routes, affecting 139 routes and 1,600 blueline buses.
The state government in 2007 had announced that blueline buses would be taken off the roads by Commonwealth Games. According to the Delhi police records, blueline buses cause over 100 deaths each year. Other complaints against the private bus operators included misbehaviour, overcharging and facilitating pick-pockets.
Driving Force
Sources in OC told MiD DAY that the drivers provided by the Delhi Government are driving T1 and T2 category vehicles which are ferrying either the VIP delegates or Games officials or those OC and Commonwealth Games Federation officials and support and technical staff who share the vehicle as carpool.
The DTC buses, however, are ferrying the players, media and others. "The buses are not being driven by them. However, on need basis or individual demand they might be ferrying players as well," said the official.u00a0
Long work hours, inadequate accommodation, refusal of the Delhi police to allow drivers to bring food with them etcu00a0-- contributed to more than 300 drivers leaving the OC in the lurch.
| Off The Roads |
| In a bid to improve the image of the city ahead of the sporting event, as many as 1,600 blueline buses were taken off the roads from September 26. |
| Substitute |
| Facing a shortage of low-floor buses in the Capital, the Delhi High Court on September 29 allowed the state government to procure around 400 new low-floor buses before the Games. Hearing the matter pertaining to the phase-out of blueline buses, the court allowed the procurement after the manufacturer Ashok Leyland assured that the fleet of 393 buses was free of manufacturing defects and that they would indemnify any loss suffered by anyone in case of mishaps. |
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