The hit-and-run case, in which a security guard was injured, on the dedicated bus lane of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) has once again raised doubts about the efficacy of the ban imposed on movement of other vehicles on the bus corridor.
Tuesday’s event, the video clip of which has become viral over the social media, has also raised serious questions on the safety of security personnel on duty on the BRTS route.
On Tuesday one among the two autorickshaw drivers, both of whom looked like they were racing on the bus corridor, hit a security guard on duty throwing him to the ground and injuring him seriously near Nalavur Cross in between Hubballi and Dharwad.
Both the autorickshaws did not stop after the accident. Even the other autorickshaw driver did not bother to help the injured security guard.
Passersby and the BRTS staff at the bus station rushed to the rescue of the security guard Kallappa Mallikarjun Madiwalar, a native of Navalgund taluk, and took him to hospital. He is now recuperating in a private hospital in Dharwad, though his condition is said to be serious.
Managing Director of Hubballi Dharwad BRTS Company Limited Rajendra Cholan had a few months ago issued an order banning the use of the dedicated bus lane by government and private vehicles.
He had said that barring BRTS buses, ambulances and emergency service vehicles, no other vehicle would be allowed to use the bus corridor and cases would be booked against violators.
Subsequently, in one of the press conferences he addressed, Mr. Cholan had also categorically stated that cases would be filed against such violators who drove vehicles on the bus corridor so that it would be a lesson for others.
Meanwhile, the Dharwad Traffic Police said that a case had been filed against the driver of the autorickshaw involved in the incident. Investigation is on.
BRTS officials said that considering the seriousness of the incident, a case had been filed under Sections 279, 337, 338 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under Sections 134 (A and B) and 187 of the Indian Motor Vehicle Act 1988.