The curious case of vanishing AMTS bus!

Theft of small luxurious cars from city is passé. Welcome to the new era of thefts where a big passenger bus is stolen from its depot!

In what can be possibly the first-ever incident in the 65-year-old history of Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS), a bus went missing from one of its bus depots on Thursday. Though hassled AMTS officials have lodged first investigation report (FIR) with Kagdapith Police Station, the theft has raised hackles of the Opposition Congress in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) which has raised doubts over security of AMTS buses fearing misuse of the missing bus. A new Marcopolo bus, manufactured by Tata Motors, with RTO passing number GJ-1 CX-8079 and serial number JM-232 went missing from Sarangpur Bus Depot on Thursday afternoon. "The bus went missing during the break time between two shifts and we have lodged an FIR with the Kagdapith Police Station," said Amit Shah, chairman of AMTS.

The AMTS officials said that bus, plying on route no 107, a circular route from Sarangpur to Sarangpur, had arrived in the depot after completing its first shift. However, the driver failed to locate his bus for the second shift. "We also inquired at all bus depots in the city as well as at the company's service station, but in vain," said an official on condition of anonymity.    

He said that the incident is first of its kind in history of AMTS since its inception in 1947. The Marcopolo bus costs around Rs27 lakh to Rs30 lakh.  Meanwhile, the opposition Congress raised the issue of missing AMTS bus in the AMC budget meeting. The opposition also raised doubts about the security of AMTS buses and its possible misuse thereby threatening citizens' life.  It should be noted that AMTS has earlier installed CCTV camera in buses bought under JNNURM scheme.

However, the missing bus did not have one installed in it. "The ruling party is talking about good administration and good governance and also boasting of providing CCTV camera for security of commuters. However, this incident has busted their tall claims," lambasted Badruddin Shaikh, leader of opposition in AMC.

"It is nothing but carelessness as someone drives away a bus from the depot and no one has any clue about it," alleged Shaikh, adding that if misused, the missing bus may pose a threat to the citizens from security point of view.