Four FIRs against rogue bus drivers

KOLKATA: In an effort to curb bus accidents on the Ultadanga-Shyambazar-Maniktala stretch, which has witnessed multiple fatal accidents in the past one month, the Ultadanga, Shyambazar and Jorabagan traffic guards have got together to start an intensive drive against dangerous driving by bus drivers.

On Tuesday, sergeants from these guards lodged four FIRs within a span of two hours in the afternoon against the drivers. “We have begun the proceedings for temporary suspension of their licences. This is a sustained effort to ensure bus drivers go by the rule book,” said a senior IPS officer at Lalbazar.



Two bus drivers, Sushanta Majhi (25) and Sukumar Adhikary (29), who were trying to race against one another at the CIT Road and EM Bypass crossing, were intercepted and a case was lodged against them at the Maniktala police station.



Similarly, Anath Haldar (40), a minibus driver on the Shyambazar-Howrah Maidan route tried to enter Bhupen Bose Avenue breaking diversion directives. When challenged, it took a dangerous right turn. A case in this regard was registered at the Shyampukur police station. A third case, this time at the Jorabagan police station, found a minibus on Salt Lake-Japani Gate dangerously overtaking other buses by breaking the bus bay.

Sergeants told TOI that bus drivers have now resorted to a new plea to avoid their licence being seized. “Whenever asked, they claim the licence has already been seized. They also don’t reclaim them as they know that if we get the licence, we can suspend it. So, we are now forwarding each of them to court and letting the court decide on the legal ramifications,” said a sergeant.

The police traffic review (2017) shows that out of the 318 deaths that year, 50 have taken place in the Shyambazar and Ultadanga traffic guards alone. While Shyambazar traffic guard recorded 27 deaths, Ultadanga recorded 23 deaths. 20 of these deaths took place at the Shyampukur and Chitpore police stations alone.

The chaos witnessed on the roads on the 2km radius between Shyambazar-Paikpara and Belgachhia during office hours, and the mad rush by private bus drivers to get as many passengers as possible resulting in accidents, has as much to blame as the rash and negligent driving by drivers.

At last count, there are at least 15 routes — all with buses running in decent frequencies — that are eyeing passengers travelling very short distances or at the most to Sealdah.

Between 2016 and now, on an average, buses had claimed 70-74 lives in the city each year. Trucks claimed another 74 on an average. Together, they accounted for 42% to 46% of all fatal Kolkata accidents in the city.