80-member team to rein in drivers not halting at bus stops

The drivers of low-floor Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses will now be booked for not halting at designated stops. Numerous commuters had complained that instead of the bus shelters, these drivers halted in the middle of the road or a few metres away, making them run to catch the bus. Prompted by these complaints, the Delhi government's Transport Department is all set to start a drive against them on Thursday.

The department has formed an 80-member team of enforcement officials to crack down on bus drivers in the fortnight-long drive. The officials in plain clothes will be deployed at major bus stops, including AIIMS, Safdarjung, Dhaula Kuan, INA, Peeragarhi, ITO, Mukarba Chowk, Lakshmi Nagar, and Akshardham.

The national Capital has over 5,000 bus queue shelters, of which around 2,000 will have the presence of these enforcement officials.

"In the first two days, the errant drivers will only be given a warning. If they continue to indulge in the practice, they will be challaned. In case of repeated challans, a driver may lose his commercial license," Special Commissioner (Transport) K K Dahiya said.

The challans will be issued under Sections 122/177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Not halting the bus at the designated spot leads to chaos and congestion on roads and holding up of traffic, besides posing a challenge to the elderly, women, and specially-abled people, Dahiya said.

The department has also shot letters to the DTC and the Delhi Integrated Multi-modal Transit System (DIMTS), which runs cluster buses, to rein in the drivers violating the norms. Many complaints regarding speeding, rash-driving, and not stopping at zebra crossings have also reached the authorities.

At present, the DTC has a fleet of 5,600 buses, of which only 4,200 are plying. The rest are defunct. According to a recent survey, Delhi needs at least 11,000 buses on a daily basis.

In 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had promised to add 10,000 buses to the DTC fleet and 736 to the cluster fleet. While no new DTC buses were procured, only 215 cluster buses were finally added.

NO NEW DTC BUSES

• The national Capital has over 5,000 bus queue shelters, of which around 2,000 will have the presence of these enforcement officials.
   
• In 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had promised to add 10,000 buses to the DTC fleet and 736 to the cluster fleet. While no new DTC buses were procured, only 215 cluster buses were finally added.
   
• Not halting the bus at the designated spot leads to chaos and congestion on roads and holding up of traffic, besides posing a challenge to the elderly people, said special commissioner