BANGALORE: The Transport Department claims that it is trying hard to curb illegal operation of private buses and maxicabs on nationalised routes. However, limitations such as shortage of enforcing staff, legal hurdles, lack of space to park seized vehicles and the like come in its way of optimum enforcement, the Department says.

It also puts the blame on State Transport Undertakings (STUs) for being responsible for the menace. Had the STUs provided adequate transport facilities, there would not have been any room for private modes of transport, they argue.

Though this argument has some relevance with regard to Bangalore city and some pockets in north Karnataka, failure on the part of the Department appears to be glaring as a whole, according to Shankaranarayana Bhat of Balehonnur.

The Department says that almost half of the sanctioned posts of Inspectors of Motor Vehicles (IMVs) are lying vacant for a long time, affecting its operations. Of the 321 sanctioned posts of IMVs, 145 are vacant despite a gigantic leap in vehicle population, sources reveal. There is also no provision for supporting staff such as guards to help the IMVs, they say.

In many cases, the department cancels or suspends permits of buses or maxi cabs when they consistently violate permit conditions. However, the owner of the offending vehicle manages to obtain a stay from the Transport Appellate Tribunal or a court and continues his operation, sources say. To aggravate its problems, the Department does not have suitable place/s to park vehicles if they seize them for violation of permit conditions, they add. It has not received any response for an invitation to private parties to offer land and security for vehicle dump. The Department has also requested the STUs to offer places in their depots for the purpose, the sources said.

Despite all these odds, the Department has been bringing offenders to books, says Transport Commissioner Om Prakash. He told The Hindu that the Department has been conducting special drives to check violation of provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act periodically. It has constituted 10 special squads for Bangalore alone comprising two motor vehicle inspectors each drawn from outside the city. In two such drives during September, the department has seized more than 150 vehicles and slapped fine on more than 500 vehicles for violating permit conditions and operating on nationalised routes, Mr. Prakash said.

However, the STUs rubbish department's claim. They point out that the Department has not been taking any action despite repeated reminders accompanied by minute details even with regard the registration numbers of offending vehicles. Regarding provision for vehicle pool for seized vehicles in their depots, sources say it is not their business to discharge the duty of the department.

(Concluded)

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