In a first, traffic cops discipline PMPML driver

While police officers at the moment are unsparing of errant drivers, shipping application officers say such incidents mission a unfavourable symbol

The penalty for a visitors rule violation in opposition to the driver of a Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus — the primary such motion in numerous months — opened a veritable Pandora’s box. Senior officials of the general public shipping application appear to be shirking responsibilities, at the same time as police on duty have been ordered not to spare any undisciplined individual in the back of the wheels.

The mentioned incident came about at 6.40 pm on Sunday when Pravin, the driver of a Nigdibound PMPML bus (MH14 CW2471) of Katraj depot, was asked to prevent the car on Shivaji Road for overspeeding and leaping a visitors mild. He had to pay Rs 1,400 as compounding penalty fees.

While Pravin was apologetic, his depot manager was no longer prepared to buy the visitors rule violation through him. “I am embarrassed for leaping the visitors mild and have paid the spot advantageous already. At instances, you are wired and don’t happen to note the sign; if any individual else is going forward you tend to enroll in them, too. For me, Rs 1,400 is a big quantity and almost a part of my wage. I will no longer repeat the similar evidently,” Pravin mentioned, including that he had over 10 challans and another Rs 1,400 pending as dues.

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In the previous, visitors police would ship e-challans to errant drivers. However, it's for the primary time that a driving force was halted and penalised on the spot.

Katraj depot manager Vikram Shitole denied the incident altogether. “This isn't true. No driving force has been fined; it is a false accusation or for that topic I do not know or main points regarding the identical,” he advised Mirror, including that strict instructions have been given to drivers and conductors to apply all visitors laws.

On the other hand, Pune police visitors division officials really feel that is high time the noose must be tightened across the erring PMPML workforce. Earlier, there was an unwritten rule that a government enterprise must be spared, but drive new deputy commissioner of police (visitors) Pankaj Deshmukh has asked his men to act in opposition to each violation. “We gave several warnings to them and was hoping to see a transformation. But to our, as well as their, dismay, not anything has changed. Recently, we've began penalising the drivers for leaping indicators and overspeeding because this needs to be managed instantly to be able to save you any coincidence. Initially, even I was of the similar concept that it's the simplest public shipping plying in the city and passengers must no longer be inconvenienced. But, we want to go beyond these ideas and strict motion is needed to curb indiscipline on street,” Deshmukh emphasised.

According to statistical data shared through the visitors division, there are round 25-30 instances daily where a PMPML bus driving force jumps the pink mild and 15 instances of overspeeding. Of past due, the choice of buses breaking down has gone up and on a regular basis, almost 10-12 buses are developing snags on roads in numerous portions of the town. While the data varies from day-to-day, senior visitors officials swear that the number simplest will increase and hasn’t gone down substantially.

About the specific incident on May 5, Khadak visitors department police inspector T Nalawade mentioned, “As suggested through seniors, motion was taken in opposition to the PMPML driving force on Sunday through our constable who was present in the area. We have additionally been suggested to not give a 2d concept earlier than taking any motion in such instances, which was no longer the case previous.”

In its defence, PMPML’s spokesperson Subhash Gaikwad mentioned, “A few months in the past, a meeting was held with the visitors police leader regarding breakdowns and employees. The officers there mentioned we will obtain an inventory that may highlight the choice of violators who belong to our organisation. It would’ve been simple for us to take further motion. But that has no longer took place and we do not have a precise thought of how many violations take place in a day. However, we take these problems very significantly and make certain that employees are counselled correctly. Several instances up to now, we’ve asked them to watch out as this creates a foul symbol of the general public shipping frame.”