NMC fines conductors, city bus service operators
| Date :14-Jun-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
Action taken for using mobile phones while on duty
Transport Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has fined a few conductors of city buses and also the bus service operators concerned as the conductors were found using mobile phones while on duty. The action was taken following the recent hike in the amount of fine in such cases. Previously, conductors of city buses found using mobile phones while on duty were fined Rs 500/-. However, recently, NMC raised the amount of fine to Rs 1,000/- for the conductor and Rs 3,000/- for the operator concerned. Besides, it was decided to discontinue the service of such conductors.
“So far, we have taken action against six conductors who were found using mobile phones while on duty. We have recovered fine from them as well as the city bus service operators concerned. Also, we have discontinued the services of these conductors,” Shivaji Jagtap, Transport Manager, told ‘The Hitavada’. According to Jagtap, it was needed as a few months ago, the conductors were found communicating with each other through mobile phones and WhatsApp groups and informing each other about movement of vigilance squads of Transport Department of NMC.
Owing to this cellphone-based networking among conductors, vigilance squad was unable to detect without-ticket travellers and this was resulting in losses in city bus service operations. Hence, decision was taken to not only raise the fine levied on conductor concerned, but also to recover fine from city bus service operator concerned.
45 mini-buses to be added to city bus fleet Shivaji Jagtap, Transport Manager, said that 45 mini-buses would be added to the city bus fleet in next 10 days. These buses will be inducted especially for operations in congested areas of the city where it was difficult for the regular (big) buses to take a turn or ply on road safely. Besides, five electric buses will be inducted soon. “The charging stations and creation of appropriate infrastructure may take one-and-a-half months. Already, we have identified a site for charging station in Small Industry Area in Lakadganj,” he said.
‘Retrofitting of diesel bus into CNG one successful NMC has taken up a project to convert as many as 70 diesel buses into those operating on compressed natural gas (CNG). In the first phase, 70 buses will be converted into CNG ones and later on the entire fleet of city buses will be converted. According to Shivaji Jagtap, Transport Manager, already retrofitting of one bus has been completed and it is successful. Now, other buses are being taken up for conversion. The select 70 buses will be converted into CNG ones within one-and-a-half months. Asked about CNG refuelling station to be set up for city buses, Jagtap said that it would be set up at a location near Automotive Square. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be brought to the city from Gujarat and it will be converted into CNG for the city buses, he added.
After delay, Tejaswini buses to be on road soon Tejaswini, the name given to city buses specially dedicated to serve the women, may be on road soon. The buses were to be on road last year. However, due to several reasons including difference in suggestions by city bus service operators, funding issues owing to poor financial health of NMC, changes in the possible routes, safety concerns, etc., delayed the implementation of the ambitious project announced in the budget of Transport Committee. “True that the project has got delayed due to some reasons, but now the demonstration bus will be ready in 10 days and Tejaswini buses will be on road soon,” Jagtap said.