Standing on footboards of buses has gone up among students, officials need to get tough

  • | Friday | 6th July, 2018

The unsafe travel is attributed to various reasons like inadequacy of an efficient public transport system, lack of awareness on the risk of standing in the footboards of running buses. Prabhakar added that the footboard travel is attributed to many reasons, but overloading of buses is one of the main reasons.When contacted, M Sudha Bindu, deputy chief traffic manager, APSRTC, Vizag city, admitted that footboard travel in city buses is reported. Visakhapatnam: Travelling on footboards in buses is on the rise among students in the Port City.With the beginning of new academic year, the unsafe practice by students has become a common sight in almost all city buses, particularly those plying on long routes daily. Speed restrictions near educational institutions are also not followed.K Prabhakar, assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Vizag City, said that fatal and not-fatal mishaps due to footboard travel in the city buses happen, but not more. RTC daily runs 600 buses in the city, covering nearly 2 lakh kilometres.

Visakhapatnam: Travelling on footboards in buses is on the rise among students in the Port City.With the beginning of new academic year, the unsafe practice by students has become a common sight in almost all city buses, particularly those plying on long routes daily. The unsafe travel is attributed to various reasons like inadequacy of an efficient public transport system, lack of awareness on the risk of standing in the footboards of running buses. However, both the traffic police and APSRTC officials are taking measures to curb the practice but with no avail.A senior Road Transport Authority (RTA) officer said that passengers travelling on the footboard pose a great risk as the chances of hitting against other vehicles overtaking from the left side, dividers, electricity poles or tree branches.“It is better not to travel on the footboard under any circumstances in any type of motor vehicle,” S Venkateswara Rao, deputy transport commissioner, RTA, Visakhapatnam said.Although the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GMC) has developed the roads, they have failed to provide proper lane markings. Though the speed limit of 30 kilometers per is prescribed, bus drivers never follow it. Speed restrictions near educational institutions are also not followed.K Prabhakar, assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Vizag City, said that fatal and not-fatal mishaps due to footboard travel in the city buses happen, but not more. This year only two incidents happened, but the practice of footboard travel by the students is continuing.“We take photographs of the buses in which teenagers or youths travel on footboards and register on the official record sheet of bus conductor. But, all these measures taken so far are not enough as collective efforts are needed,” Prabhakar said. Prabhakar added that the footboard travel is attributed to many reasons, but overloading of buses is one of the main reasons.When contacted, M Sudha Bindu, deputy chief traffic manager, APSRTC, Vizag city, admitted that footboard travel in city buses is reported. She said that their corporation is planning to add 12 more city buses in the peak hours in the routes for the convenience of the students.“We will also keep tabs on the buses with the footboards crowded with people and will tell our staff not to encourage the practice. We regularly conduct counselling and awareness camps among our staff about Dos and Don’ts,” Bindu added. According to the sources, the foot board travel is reported in the routes to Madhurawada, Gitam University, Gajuwaka, Simhachalam, RK Beach, Tagarapuvalasa, HB Colony, Gopalapatnam, Scindia, Purna Market, Old Post Office, Kurmannapalem, Pendurty, Rushikonda, MVP Colony, Maddilapalem, Akkayyapalem. RTC daily runs 600 buses in the city, covering nearly 2 lakh kilometres. Nearly 1 lakh students avail the student concession bus passes.

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