MSRTC starts accident prevention drive

Taking note of the two fatal accidents involving its buses, where two school children were mowed down, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has launched an accident prevention drive throughout the state.

The drive, which started from Monday, will go on till October 10. It will include giving information leaflets to drivers before they begin their trips and several other measures.

“All the drivers will be given a special leaflet before starting their duty. It will have important instructions to prevent accidents and these will be explained by the specially appointed official,” said MSRTC vice-chairman Deepak Kapoor. All the conductors will be briefed on it too, added Kapoor.

Additional traffic officials will be posted at bus stands during rush hours to control the movement of buses as well as the crowd. The corporation will also show short films on accident prevention, available with the RTO, in all the depots.

“The vice-chairman has taken serious note of the accidents and will review this drive in a meeting of all the divisional traffic officers on September 27. He will also guide the meeting on the future course of action in vehicular safety,” stated a written communication by MSRTC.

A 12-year-old girl was killed in an accident in the Paratwada stand in Amravati district on September 7. The MSRTC bus driver, plying on Morshi-Paratwada route, was reversing the bus when the girl came under its rear wheel. A 10-year-old boy died at Jarud bus stand on September 14 while trying to get into the Warud-Goregaon bus of Amravati division. The drivers and conductors of both the buses were suspended.