The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Coimbatore, has apparently taken cognisance of the action taken by the Transport Department and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board against some of its bus crew who had utilised banned air horns.
A few of the 21 buses from which air horns were removed recently at Gandhipuram by a team of officials during the course of a surprise check constituted TNSTC buses operating city services, officials of the Transport Department said. The air horns were confiscated.
Sources in TNSTC, Coimbatore, said the bus crew have been strictly told not to use air horns. The bus crew have been warned that they will have to pay the fines by themselves for flouting norms, a senior official said.
During the surprise checks, officials of the Transport Department apprised the bus crew about ban imposed by the Supreme Court on use of air horns. Fixing of air horns is an offence under section 190 (2) of Motor Vehicles Act (1988), officials added.
Honking of air horns damage ear drums and frighten road users. The rules are clear, but making people to adhere to the noise norms is an herculean task, the official said, adding that the departments of Transport, TNPCB and Police will, nevertheless, carry out the vehicle checks at regular intervals.
According to Section 190(2) in The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, any person who drives or causes or allows to be driven, in any public place a motor vehicle, which violates the standards prescribed in relation to road safety, control of noise and air-pollution, shall be punishable for the first offence with a fine of ₹1,000 and for any subsequent offence with a fine of ₹2,000
Published - April 22, 2025 07:33 pm IST
