Pvt buses continue their killing spree

KOCHI: As incidences of road rage involving private buses are increasing in the city, the traffic police and MVD are finding it tough to rein in on the violators. Activists and road users are calling for stringent action against the blue devils (private buses which are painted blue) even as they have a free-run in Kochi. The police, though they maintain a report on crimes in the city, they don’t have a seperate register of the crimes committed by private buses.

The other day, a 19-year-old motorist died after being run over by a bus at Judges Avenue Traffic Junction. The deceased Saniya is survived by her mother Gracy. A few months earlier, another youngster narrowly escaped being run over at the same place.

In another incident, a 55-year-old woman died after she was she was hit by a private bus at Ayyapankavu in Kochi a few months ago.The deceased Premalatha was 55. According to the police, the incident took place in the evening when Premalatha was returning home on a scooter.

In August first week, an 18-year-old college student was crushed under a private bus near the Jawaharlal Nehru Metro station in Kochi. Jayaram Borana, son of Borana, a Bihari family, was residing at an apartment near Judge’s Avenue. Jayaram died on the spot.

Another motorcyclist lost his life after he was run over by a private bus along the Seaport Airport road in mid-2018. The deceased was identified as Samuelkutty, 51, of Vazhakkulam in Aluva, who lost his life while the bus took a reverse from a petrol pump near Sunrise Hospital on Seaport-Airport Road. The deceased was employed with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and was on his way for work when the incident took place. The driver of the bus lost had lost control.

Police officials say that the buses plying to Thoppumpady, Mattanchery and Fort Kochi are the main violators of the road rules. The buses often try to intimidate other vehicles into clearing their way.
Prathapan, an activist says that people were earlier fearful of KSRTC buses.”But now, it is the private buses we are afraid of. They drive zigzag on busy roads. They are always worried about time and money and not about human life. How can we peacefully travel when such road rage persists?”

The MVD which has put a stringent check on several traffic violations in Kochi, say traffic road violations are a rarity.  “We are now struggling to find a road violation in the city. Right now, most of the violations are modifications brought on vehicles,” said a MVD officer.