Rain is here, but no fix for leaky MTC buses

The deplorable condition of the ageing buses came into spotlight when a bus driver attached to the Basin Bridge depot drove a bus with an umbrella over his head. 

The MTC driver attached to the Basin Bridge depot said under anonymity, “We had complained about the leaky roofs, shaky seats and jammed window panes in the logbook umpteen number of times. Before the onset of monsoon, the vehicles need to be assessed to make them fit for the road. If we refuse to take bus from the depot citing improper maintenance, the higher authorities threaten to mark absent for the day.”

The vice-president of Netaji Transport Union, MV Ramamurthy, admitted that a majority of MTC bus drivers have similar complaints. “The branch managers of various bus depots should supervise to ensure that maintenance works are being carried out before monsoon. On paper, the managers record that all the works were completed beforehand and they submit the bills with the higher authorities,” Ramamurthy said.

When contacted, a senior MTC official said that a probe would be conducted on the matter.