Bluelines must behave, LG moots 30-day deadline

New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) As the Blueline buses continue with their killing spree, Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna today said bus operators and drivers should be given a 30-day time-frame to mend their ways.

''They should be given 30 days to improve or else they could sell their buses to the DTC, deducting the depreciation cost. The corporation will operate the fleet with trained and skilled manpower, employed after several tests,'' he said on the sidelines of a press meet organised at the Raj Niwas here.

The public transport system should either be corporatised or handled by cooperatives so as to make it more accountable.

Otherwise, the buses should be operated by corporates or cooperatives. ''They will dispense the responsibility in a professional manner,'' he felt.

The Government at present is carrying on an enforcement drive to curb rash driving by the Blueline bus drivers, a statement released by the Chief Minister's office said.

Announcing the results of the drive, Joint Commissioner of Traffic police Qamar Ahmed said action was taken against 59,543 vehicles for violating different sections of the traffic rules during the past one year. A total of 6949 buses were impounded and 1684 driving licenses were punched.

At least 63 persons lost their lives due to rash driving of Blue line Buses, of whom six persons were killed in the past 15 days.

He said action against 7423 buses was taken during the last 18 days. Of these, 362 buses were found being driven dangerously, 185 on the wrong side, 62 without speed governors and 1424 parked indiscriminately. A total of 1142 buses were impounded whereas 853 buses were challaned in pursuance of instructions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, action was taken against 900 buses out of which 227 were impounded whereas yesterday, 600 buses were challaned and 129 buses were impounded, he was quoted in the CMO statement.

UNI