GUWAHATI: A fresh wave of chaos involving city buses erupted in Guwahati in recent times after multiple accidents, prompting swift reaction from traffic authorities. Addressing the issue, the DCP (Traffic) said the incident was triggered by a bus deviating from its designated route, leading to confusion and disruption in the area.
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The DCP said that the green buses along with all other buses must drive only on the left side of the road and must not overtake other buses. He ensures that in any such cases strict actions will be taken against not just the driver and conductor but also the people responsible for the management of routes.
The assignment of a limited and fixed number of buses on each route was also highlighted by the officials at the press conference.
Speaking to the media , the DCP said that in all such cases, the traffic police seize the driving licence of the erring driver on the spot and forward it to the District Transport Officer (DTO) / Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) for further action. He also reiterated that display of the driving licence inside buses is mandatory, and drivers found without it will face action.
Citing rules laid down by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), the DCP said green buses are required to ply strictly on the left side of the road and are barred from overtaking other buses. Any bus found violating these norms will be off-roaded for seven days, he warned.
The DCP further revealed that over 60 driving licences have been cancelled in the past one year as part of the department's ongoing crackdown on traffic violations by city bus drivers.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner (DC), who also addressed the matter, said that a final decision on the issue would be taken in the coming days, after proper consultation and a meeting with officials of the DTO and the RTA board.
The authorities have assured that stricter monitoring and enforcement will follow to prevent recurrence of such incidents and to ensure smoother, safer city bus operations.