Delhi govt and Blueline bus owners are on the warpath again

Blueline bus operators want speed governors to go before installing GPS devices in their vehicles; government remains adamant

Blueline bus operators want speed governors to go before installing GPS devices in their vehicles; government remains adamant

The private bus operators have decided to oppose tooth and nail the government plan to install GPS devices in the buses to closely monitor their movement throughout the city. The city transport department has sent a notice to the Blueline operators, directing them to install GPS devices in the buses within six months.

Taking a toll: Blueline buses are known as "killers" due to the frequent
and numerous road accidents they are involved in. file pic

The move, according to transport department sources, has been aimed at keeping track of the Blueline buses, which are involved in numerous accidents on road.
However, the Blueline bus owners are claiming that with speed governors already installed in the vehicles the GPS device would only burden them extra cost.

"We have spent Rs 26,000 on installation of speed governors in our buses. Each year we have to spend Rs 5,000-7,000 on the maintenance of these devices," said president of Delhi Bus Ekta Manch Shyam Lal Gola.
"We would welcome any step aimed at decreasing road accidents but if the government is so keen on installing GPS devices, they should choose such technology which will make these speed governors redundant. That will save us a lot of money," Gola said.

However, the government seems to be in no mood to consider their demand. Though transport minister, AK Lovely was not available for comments, a senior official associated with the development said: "Blueline bus operators have submitted with the Delhi High Court in 2007 that they would install GPS devices in their buses for monitoring by the transport department. How can they backtrack now? We are only implementing the court's order. Also it's not just for Blueline buses, even the state-run DTC buses will be monitored through such devices," the official said.

The movement of the buses will be monitored by DIMTS, the special purpose vehicle of Delhi government to execute transport projects in city.
For getting the GPS devices installed on their vehicles, the Blueline operators will have to pay a security deposit of Rs 12,000 and a monthly fee of Rs 500 per bus.

Joint Commissioner and Secretary, State Transport Authority, Ajay Chagti confirmed that the state transport department has issued an order to all the Blueline operators to install GPS devices in their buses.
Transport expert with School of Planning and Architecture, Vinay Maitri said: "The advanced GPS system can give real time information of speed, location and over-speeding by a bus. However, it cannot stop anybody from

On the run

The city currently has 2,700 blueline buses left which are being issued permits after every four months. As per Delhi traffic police records, every third day a person in the city dies in an accident involving a Blueline bus.
Earlier this year, the city government tried to implement the phase out plan for Blueline buses from south Delhi routes. However, due to the Delhi High Court's intervention and the delay in corporatization it was stopped mid-way. "Unless we have sufficient buses in the city Bluelines cannot be completely taken off the roads," the official clarified.

over-speeding," said Maitri.u00a0u00a0u00a0

Another official said, "We plan to introduce GPS system by the next five months in all Blueline buses operating in the city. We will see to it that all bus operators comply."