Faulty buses force CM cut short city rounds

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was forced cut short his city rounds on Wednesday after the two BMTC buses by which he chose to travel broke down.

In the first instance, the air conditioner in the white Volvo bus by which the chief minister was travelling, developed a snag and he shifted to a blue Volvo bus in Shanthinagar. However, this bus too stopped on the middle of Ramamurthy Nagar main road following a defect in the fan belt of the ignition system. Since the snag was not repaired even after 20 minutes, the chief minister dropped the plan to inspect Kalkere tank. He took official car to attend a scheduled programme.

A senior BMTC official said that notices have been issued to the bus drivers - Noorullah and another - seeking explanation for the breakdown.

Noorullah has been working as the official bus driver for the chief minister for around a decade. He was appointed to the post during the tenure of B S Yeddyurappa.

“Today's was chief minister's 41st ride in the bus. It is for the first time that the bus broke down during the city rounds. Sir always used to praise me and say "Thank You" every time. But I do not know what happened today" said Noorullah with tears in his eyes.

DH News Service