Acting drivers on a mishap spree

Though 60 per cent of the buses were operated in western districts, people travelling them were gripped by fear as most them were driven by temporary crew. A Vazhapadi-bound government bus from Salem, driven by one Manikandan, rammed a private bus. As many as four passengers and Manikandan suffered injuries. Owing to this the passengers had to alight and wait for long hours for the next bus. 

In another incident, a government bus heading to Vattakadu from Salem was halted on the Salem-Bangalore National Highways near Kuranguchavady as it brokedown. 

According to sources, the bus was driven by an acting driver, who was earlier plying tempos. He was not able to shift gears in the bus. As a result, traffic was affected on the stretch for a couple of hours and other vehicles were had to be diverted. 

In Namakkal, a bus driven by temporary driver Kanagaraj hit a two-wheeler on Thuraiyur Road, leaving the biker injured badly. The Namakkal police have registered a case and further enquiry is on. 

In Coimbatore, a bus run by an inexperienced driver crashed into a roundabout triggering panic among the passengers and the bystanders. 

In the backdrop of frequent accidents involving buses driven by temporary drivers, former students of TNSTC’s heavy vehicle driving training centre in Pollachi created awareness among the acting crew on safe driving methods. They were advised to operate the buses slowly to ensure safety of the passengers and other road users. 

A TNSTC conductor who received a notice from the transport department, for participating in the indefinite strike, died of cardiac arrest here on Thursday. It is said, Venkatachalam (47) of Kallanai, a TNSTC conductor attached to Tiruchy sub-urban depot was taking part in the indefinite strike staged by the transport trade unions. Venkatachalam, was also one among the 4500 employees who received a letter on Tuesday seeking explanation and was dejected. When he was participating in the protest along with his family on Tuesday, he suddenly collapsed and was rushed to a private hospital. On Thursday, he died without responding to treatment.

Managements of private schools across the state on Thursday alleged that officials from nearby Regional Transport Offices were putting pressure on them to provide their vehicles, along with drivers to tide over the ongoing strike by transport workers. However, by evening their problems came to an end as busmen suspended their protest.

Earlier in the day, the school administrators raised a suspicion that it was with an intention to use school vehicles that the government announced an additional holiday for institutions on Friday. According to members from Tamil Nadu Matriculation and CBSE Schools Associations, official from the RTO demanded the school vehicles to provide their vehicles and drivers to compensate absence of the MTC and mofussil service crew. 

“The officials are threatening that they will not provide Fitness Certificate, if we refuse to heed their demand. Fearing this, we also gave our vehicles last weekend,” alleged administrative employee of a private school. 

P K Ilamaran, president of Tamil Nadu Teachers Association said, “We have received complaints from more number of schools and will take up the issue with the transport department after collecting information from the affected schools.” When contacted, S Velusamy, Joint Transport Commissioner (Road Safety), Transport Department, denied the allegations saying, “We have not received complaint from any school and stern actions will be taken against officials who resort to such measures.”