Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Mar 27: A month ago, deputy commissioner (DC) Mullai Muhilan issued an order stating that all buses registered after 2017 must install doors for the safety of passengers. As the deadline approaches, there is considerable confusion regarding the installation of doors on buses. While some owners claim there is no such requirement for city buses.
Speaking to Daijiworld, former president of the Private Bus Owners Association, Jayasheela Adyanthaya, stated, "We have conducted meetings with the transport and police departments, urging them to exempt buses registered before 2017 from the requirement to install doors. The newly amended rule mandates that buses registered after 2017 come with pre-installed doors."
The DC has clearly stated that all private city buses registered since 2017 must install doors within the next month and submit an affidavit to this effect. The body structure of buses registered before 2017 is fundamentally different. Installing doors on these buses would require extensive modifications to the body structure, incurring significant expenses. If buses registered after 2017 do not have doors, the responsibility lies with the company. Some buses originally had doors but were removed for convenience.
"We prioritize passenger safety and take all necessary measures. While installing doors is something we can do gradually, requiring immediate installation poses significant challenges," says Jayasheela Adyanthaya.
It may be recalled that a bus conductor died on the spot at Nanthoor after slipping out of a door. Since then, concerns regarding the safety of passengers and conductors have been raised.