Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jul 13: Police commissioner Sandeep Patil said 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.
Patil was addressing to the concerns raised by a caller during the phone-in programme at police commissioner’s office on Friday, July 12.
A caller complained that the 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.
Another caller complained that the drivers of private buses drive in a rash manner. Also, seat is not allotted for senior citizens and bus conductors do not intervene to ensure senior citizens get a seat. “We will bring this issue to the notice of the bus owners,” responded Patil.
A caller complained about police towing the vehicles which are parked on the footpath near MG road. Police commissioner Sandeep Patil replied, "If the vehicles are parked on footpath, then where will pedestrians walk? The vehicles have to be towed when parked on the footpath,”
A former corporator complained that people park their vehicles and come to shops at the market near Bikarnakatte. However, their vehicles are towed. He questioned the commissioner on where vehicles have to be parked. To this, Patil questioned back, “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?”
Several complaints were raised during the phone-in-programme, with regard to the protest by school vehicle drivers. They urged police to look into the issue and take action.
Meanwhile, an auto driver questioned, 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?”
Police commissioner Sandeep Patil said, "There is no such partiality. Be it bus or auto, if found overloaded, cases will be booked against the drivers and owners,”
A caller complained that the traffic signal at PVS Circle is not visible to the drivers. Sandeep Patil assured to check the traffic signals installed across the city and rectify the errors.
DCP crime and traffic Laxmi Ganesh, DCP law and order Hanumantharaya and ACP traffic Manjunath Shetty were also present.
The phone-in-programme is held every Friday from 10 am to 11 am, during which callers may call on 0824-2220530 or 0824-2220201 to directly express their grievances to the police commissioner. One can also WhatsApp their complaints/grievances to 9480805300.