GURGAON: The bus that caught fire on NH-8 on Wednesday evening, was fined twice last year, according to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA). The bus operator was caught by the RTAs enforcement team in March and July last year and penalties amounting to a total of Rs 1 lakh were imposed on him for not paying taxes and violating the terms of the tourist permit.The bus operator is a repeat offender. We had issued challans against him for not paying taxes and not complying with the terms of the All India Tourist Permit (AITP). It is the responsibility of the bus operator, driver and conductor to ensure that there is no combustible substance on board. Passengers should also be mindful of what they are carrying to ensure their safety as well as that of others, an official said. Before Wednesdays fire, RTA teams issued challans to nine buses for flouting the permit terms, plying without paying taxes, not carrying the necessary documents and overloading. While officials claimed that they carry out checks regularly, many AITP buses in the city arent following the rules.As per the rules, these vehicles can ply between one specified point to another and must maintain a list of passengers in electronic form or in physical form with details of origin and the destination of each passenger. However, many buses are plying as stage carriages and pick up and drop commuters at multiple areas. All India Tourist Permit can be granted to buses as well as cabs and is valid throughout the country. The vehicle can be operated by the permit holder throughout the country by booking for individuals or groups, and passengers can board at one point and get off at the designated destination. But they cant operate as stage carriages and pick up passengers at random points. Despite shortage of manpower, we have been conducting regular checks and issuing challans with the help of police, the RTA official said.We also published the following articles recentlyDiwali: TNSTC Madurai to operate special busesTamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) Madurai Limited will be operating a total of 1,050 special buses before and after Diwali to accommodate the increased passenger movement during the festive season. The buses will be running between November 9 and 11, as well as between November 13 and 15, to various destinations including Trichy, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, and Chennai. TNSTC has also made online ticket booking available through their website and mobile app.Rai: Banned diesel buses still plyingDelhis environment minister, Gopal Rai, has raised concerns over BS-III and BS-IV buses still plying in Delhi despite a ban imposed by the CAQM. He has written to the union environment minister, Bhupendra Yadav, requesting a meeting with environment ministers from neighboring states. Rai has also called for a ban on such vehicles entering Delhi and the NCR. The CAQM had previously ordered that all buses traveling from NCR districts to Delhi should be EV, CNG, or diesel-VI vehicles. Delhi BJP president, Virendra Sachdeva, accused Rai of trying to evade accountability.Traffic restrictions in Delhi: E-vehicles can ply on all daysThe Delhi government is considering whether to ban all NCR cabs or allow a limited number during the proposed odd-even traffic restrictions in the city. One option being discussed is to allow odd-numbered taxis on odd days and even-numbered ones on even days. Electric vehicles will be exempted from the restrictions. The governments decision is based on a suggestion from the Supreme Court. Over one lakh commercial vehicles enter the city daily, and there are about 1.12 lakh registered taxis in Delhi.

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