Two drivers on MSRTC buses, dangerous for passengers!

Lokmat News Network

Nagpur, Oct 15

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has resumed the Shiv Shahi bus service between Nagpur and Pune. They are sending two drivers in the bus, so that once the a driver completes eight hours of duty, the other driver can take over and drive the bus. But the issue with the arrangement is that the driver, who will take over will be travelling in the bus and will also not be able to take rest. If the driver is not getting adequate rest, chances are that it may lead to accidents and hence the new experiment is flawed.

The run between Nagpur and Pune takes around 15-16 hours. So the second driver, who is sitting will not have enough rest and will have to drive the bus. Earlier, when one driver use to start from Nagpur, he use to drive the bus for eight hours and the driver from the nearest depot use to come and take over the bus, where he use to complete his sleep properly. But with the new system, the driver travels in the bus and is compelled to drive the bus without enough rest. Moreover, after doing 41 hours duty, the drivers are not paid overtime, due to which the drivers are not happy. The MSRTC drivers are demanding that this arrangement should be stopped immediately, as it is not serving any good for the drivers, they demanded.

The new system of MSRTC is detrimental to the passengers travelling in the bus, as well as the drivers are not get overtime and they have to bear financial loss. So this arrangement should be stopped immediately, said Purshottam Ingole, divisional secretary, MSRTC Employees Union.

We are following the guidelines of MSRTC and proper care is being taken that the drivers get adequate rest, said Nilesh Belsare, divisional controller, Nagpur Division.