Pics: Anna Sequeira/Nithin Pereira

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (AS)

Udupi, Jul 4: More than a month after the June 1 deadline set by the district administration for the installation of mandatory folding-type doors on all private buses operating in Udupi city, several buses continue to ply without complying with the safety directive, raising serious questions over the enforcement of the order.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Udupi superintendent of police Hariram Shankar said, "RTO officials are inspecting buses, and those operating without the mandatory folding-type doors are being fined. Around 60% of the buses are currently operating with the required doors. In addition, when a bus is presented for renewal of its Fitness Certificate (FC), strict action will be taken by the authorities if the required doors have not been installed."

The district administration had categorically stated that June 1 would be the final deadline and warned that buses failing to install folding-type doors would face cancellation of their Fitness Certificates (FCs). Authorities had also announced that non-compliant buses operating after the deadline could be seized as part of the enforcement drive.

Despite these warnings, several private buses without the mandatory doors continue to operate on city routes more than a month after the deadline. The continued violation has raised growing concerns over whether the directions issued by the district administration are being effectively implemented.

Private bus operators had earlier assured the administration of full compliance within the extended timeframe and had agreed not to object to enforcement action against buses found violating the order after the deadline.

If the warnings issued by the district administration are not enforced, there are concerns that the objective of improving passenger safety could be undermined, while compliant operators may also be placed at a disadvantage compared to those continuing to violate the directive.