MSRTC Strengthens Driver Training And Mental Health Checks After Fatal Kurla Bus Accident
MSRTC Strengthens Driver Training And Mental Health Checks After Fatal Kurla Bus Accident
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to enhance driver training and mental health checks for its drivers, following the recent BEST bus accident in Kurla that claimed seven lives.
According to MSRTC chairman Bharat Gogavale, the corporation will focus on driver training, selection tests, and mental health checks. “We have decided to focus on driver training, selection tests, and their mental health. MSRTC buses have also seen some serious accidents in Bhandara and Nashik recently,” Gogavale said.
The MSRTC has instructed its divisions across the state to keep a check on drivers and provide refresher courses to them if needed. While a refresher course for all drivers happens every six months, instructions have been given to make sure the process is strictly followed and repeated frequently. Emphasis will also be on ensuring drivers don’t consume alcohol while on the job.
The recent BEST accident bears some resemblance to the “infamous” Santosh Mane incident from 2012, where an MSRTC driver hijacked a bus and mowed down nine people in Pune. After the Mane incident, the MSRTC framed a complete, strict training manual for its drivers, which is still followed.
The MSRTC has 34,000 drivers and 38,000 conductors. In the Pune division, there are 2,300 drivers and 1,800 conductors. The fleet consists of 280 e-buses, and drivers have to go through a mandatory 90-day training followed by two kinds of tests before getting recruited and given a bus to drive. Counselling sessions with the help of professionals will be done in addition to more refresher courses at regular intervals.
The MSRTC chairman also emphasized the importance of providing flawless buses. “There are some drivers who are not direct employees of MSRTC. The aim is to provide the same training for them too. MSRTC has a fleet of 14,000 buses, which is inadequate as the number of passengers is high,” Gogavale said.
The MSRTC has also proposed a hike in fares by 18%, which will be tabled before the state government soon. Show-cause notices will be sent to companies that did not provide buses to MSRTC on time.
