Gadkari: Probe graft, norms violations by bus body builders

NEW DELHI: Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said he has asked state governments to investigate “corruption”, irregularities and flouting of norms by sleeper bus body builders and authorities registering such vehicles and issuing fitness certificates.Talking about fire incidents in sleeper buses that have claimed 145 lives in three months, including in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, Gadkari said he has asked the states concerned to take exemplary action against those responsible.He also said that govt is working to introduce a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology using free spectrum, beginning with cars, to prevent road accidents. Under the V2V technology, drivers would be alerted about speed, location, acceleration, vehicles in blind spots and braking of other vehicles in real-time in their vicinity. This will allow drivers to take preventive action.Flagging the issue of bus fires, Gadkari said, “We have found that there was no compliance of norms in building sleeper buses. It has also come to our notice that there was corruption at different levels. People have pasted logos of reputed brands fraudulently. I have gone through the presentations on such bus fire accidents. In six incidents, we lost 145 lives. I have written to Rajasthan and other state govts to investigate the irregularities and take strict action against those responsible. “He said govt has decided that sleeper coach buses will only be manufactured by automobile companies or facilities accredited by the Centre. Existing sleeper coach buses will have to be retrofitted with fire detection systems, emergency exits with hammers, emergency lighting, and driver drowsiness indicators, Gadkari added.Separately, road transport secretary V Umashankar has written to chief secretaries to address the problem and fix responsibilities as well. Gadkari and Umashankar were addressing reporters after a two-day meet on transport and road safety related issues with states. tnn