Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport wakes up to Andhra Pradesh bus tragedy

Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport authorities have swung into action to ensure high safety levels are maintained in its Volvo buses, after a private Volvo bus in Andhra Pradesh caught fire, charring 45 passengers to death. The NMMT chairman ensured that he would personally check the safety levels in NMMT’s air-conditioned Volvo buses.

The transport wing of the civic body, which runs 28 air-conditioned Volvo buses to connect different parts of city including Mumbai, has outsourced the maintenance of the AC buses to Volvo itself.
“Volvo has entrusted its three engineers to carry out maintenance works of all NMMT buses at the Turbhe depot,” said Shirish Aradwad, executive engineer (workshop), NMMT. The AC Volvo buses of NMMT have not received any technical problems, so far.

Anwar Shaikh, chairman of transport committee, said, “We should learn a lesson from the AP incident and ensure passengers’ safety in buses.”

“I have asked all the drivers to fill up the bus card properly so that technical problems if any, can be corrected in time,” said Shaikh adding, “It will be mandatory to fill up the bus card.”

Shaikh accepted that in many buses fire distinguishers were missing. “I have already asked all conductors and drivers to check buses’ condition before leaving the depot and bring them back in the same condition. And, I will ensure all buses, both AC and non-AC are equipped with fire distinguishers.”

Aradwad said all AC Volvo buses have two emergency exit windows that can be opened or broken during trouble. “All emergency windows carry a detailed note on how to open it and there is hammer in the bus to break open the window,” said Aradwad.

Shaikh informed that all emergency windows will carry a notice in Marathi, Hindi and English languages. “I will make a surprise visit to the workshop and depot to check the condition of buses. We should make commuting comfortable.” “After Diwali, stricter measures will be taken by the transport committee,” concluded Shaikh.

No free rides in AC buses
Following complaints about NMMT’s drivers and conductors travelling in AC Volvo buses for free, Anwar Shaikh has instructed all the on-duty AC buses’ conductors to collect fares from them.
“Even corporators and members of transport committee do not get free rides in these buses,” said Shaikh. “Those found flouting rules, will have to pay a fine of Rs300,” Shaikh said.