Udhagamandalam: State transport minister M R Vijayabaskar on Monday handed over solatium to the families of the eight victims of a bus accident that took place near Manthada on the Ooty-Coonoor Road on June 14. The minister dispersed a total sum of Rs 51 lakh to the beneficiaries.
While the families of six victims received Rs 7 lakh each, two families received Rs 4.5 lakh each as the victims were over 60 years of age.
The ninth victim was a resident of Bengaluru. According to the minister, the solatium will be handed over to her family soon. Talking to reporters later, the minister said, “It is the policy of the government not to give permission to private players to operate bus services in the Nilgiris and Kanyakumari districts”.
However, social activists say the two small districts are being deprived of quality transport services by the government as there is no healthy competition.
“As an alternative, rationalization in the functioning of the corporations with private participation should be considered seriously for better service to the Nilgiris,” said a social activist pleading anonymity.
Asked about the lack of availability of spare parts in the six depots of TNSTC in the Nilgiris district, the minister said that the matter would be taken care of. “If the depots are found with insufficient spares, it would be supplied within two days,” Vijayabaskar said.
Mentioning that the Nilgiris section of state-owned corporation is making a loss, the minister said, “But the government is particular about the services rendered to the public. Out of the 2,000 new fleets ordered, about 39 have been allotted to the Nilgiris district and 13 have already arrived.”