Mishaps near bus stand entrance give commuters the jitters

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May19

Inadequacy in the enforcement of traffic rules by the PRTC drivers keep landing the commuters in trouble. The complaints by the commuters invariably revolves around the reckless driving by the drivers while entering the bus stand. The flyover that leads to the entrance of the bus stand is also prone to accidents due to different diversions leading from it.

Rajni Diya Gupta, a commuter whose car recently escaped getting hit by a bus, said, “A speedy PRTC bus (PB09X3207) almost collided with my vehicle when we were turning into the lane leading to Garha road on the flyover. The driver was in such a hurry that he didn’t even give a turn signal and overtook us by a hair’s breadth, resulting in a close shave.”

Another commuter said, “I faced a similar situation last month when a PRTC driver blatantly hit the four cars in which my friends and I were travelling. Afterwards, the driver went to the PRTC workshop and behaved arrogantly. The union in-charge also paid no heed to our plight and let the driver go without punishment.”

Gurnail Singh, another passenger, also regretted the reckless driving by the PRTC drivers who he said jump traffic lights on most occasions. However, PRTC station in-charge, Harpreet Singh denied the charge saying none of the PRTC bus driver can drive above the speed limit as sensors have been installed in all the buses that beep whenever any driver crosses the speed limit of 85 km per hour. Harpreet Singh, however, could not elaborate on the measures taken to keep a tab on the violation of sensor rules but added that action is taken if the complainants provide them with evidence.

He also said that accidents near the bus stand take place not only due to the negligence of bus drivers but also due to the carelessness of the commuters who disregard traffic rules.