Strict action against city buses not following routes: Compol

Mangaluru: Notice will be issued to bus drivers and its owners, if they fail to ply on regular routes or if they change routes without permission, said Police commissioner Sandeep Patil addressing to the concerns raised by a caller during the phone-in programme at police commissioner’s office on Friday, July 12.

The caller complained that 60 number bus, which is supposed to travel via Malemar and 15 number bus, which is supposed to travel via Morgans Gate are changing routes in the morning and evening.

Responding to a caller’s complained that the drivers of private buses drive in a haphazard manner, seat is not allotted for senior citizens and bus conductors do not intervene to ensure senior citizens get a seat, Mr Patil said that the issue will be brought to the notice of the bus owners.

Parking on the footpath

A caller complained about police towing the vehicles which are parked on the footpath near MG road to which the commissioner informed, “If the vehicles are parked on footpath, then where will pedestrians walk? The vehicles have to be towed when parked on the footpath.”

A caller who is a former corporator complained that vehicles parked in front of the shops at the market near Bikarnakatte were being towed and therefore, the caller questioned the commissioner on where vehicles have to be parked.

In response Mr Paitl questioned, “You have experience of working as a people’s representative and you should have found solution for parking problem. Being a people’s representative if you speak in such a way, then who will solve the problem?”

Most of the calls received during the phone-in-programme were concerning the protest by school vehicle drivers and the callers urged the cops to look into the issue and take action.

To a question by an auto driver on why there is partiality between auto and bus? “Action is being taken when an auto is overloaded. But why is the same rule not applied for buses?”

Mr Patil replied, “There is no such partiality. Be it bus or auto, if found overloaded, cases will be booked against the drivers and owners.”

Responding to a complaint that the traffic signal at PVS Circle is not visible to the drivers, the commissioner assured to check the traffic signals installed across the city and rectify the errors.