Angul: The ill-fated ‘Maharaja’ bus that crashed off a bridge near Athamallik in Angul district last week, claiming the lives of over 20 passengers, was penalised at least on four occasions by the Regional Transport Department for violation of road guidelines, according to reports.
The charges made out against the vehicle included hazardous driving, misbehaviour with passengers and driver’s chatting over mobile phone. The bus, despite being over 16 years old, was issued a fresh road permit and a fitness certificate by the department in what is being termed as gross oversight – given its history of irregularities.
Sources in the transport department revealed the ill-fated bus was manufactured and bought in 2000 and registered with the department August 18 of that year. The Maharaja’s fitness certificate expired in April this year and a fresh fitness certificate was issued in its favour in May.
Expressing his misgivings over the matter, the transport commissioner, in a letter to the Angul RTO, sought clarification over the issuance of the fitness certificate. According to government circulars, the deputy commissioner and motor vehicle inspector (MVI), after a joint inspection, should issue the fitness certificate to a vehicle which is over 10 years old. In this case, the bus was more than 15 years old. The commissioner sought to know under which circumstances the vehicle was issued the certificate. The RTO would have to comply with the letter by September 20 for further investigation.
On the other hand, Maharaja had paid penalties four times for violating several sections of Motor Vehicle Act.
The owner of the vehicle paid a fine of `3,000 March 14, 2003 for flouting Sections 177, 192(A) and 192(2). It was caught on the wrong foot again November 10, 2003 and paid `1,000 for violating Section 196.
The vehicle was fined `2,000 October 14, 2009 under Sections 177, 192(2), 184 and 183 (1) and again October 15, 2009 under Sections 177, 192(2) and 184 for which bus owner Rushav Kumar Tripathy made a payment of `2,000.
According to sources, the above sections are imposed when a driver drives the vehicle dangerously, overtakes a vehicle perilously, misbehaves with the passengers and speaks on mobile phone while driving.
The mishap which took away so many lives at Puruna Manitri was attributed to driver error as the driver was speaking on his phone while at the wheel.
It is also learnt that the same bus was involved in an accident at the same spot about six months back.
The department’s seemingly undue favour to the bus owner, despite so many violations, is coming under round criticism.
RTO Dhananjay Senapati remained incommunicado when attempts were made to contact him over the issue. PNN