Delhi's Killer Buses
30-08-2007

The killer blueline bus issue is once again fuelled with the death of a CISF personnel after he came under a blue line bus. An issue that was about to be packed off to give way to more fresh news items is once again open to controversy. One of the blueline buses hit a CISF man on way to office. According to reports, this is the 71st murder carried out by the private buses being run on the roads of Delhi. In the extremely hot days of July, 2007, the Blue Line bus operators were an equally hot issue.

After creating a furore all over the city, with reports that the government plans to take the bus service off roads, and then resulting in those struggling Saturday and Monday when blueline bus operators decided to go off the roads as a mark of protest against government's arbitrary policies; the issue was headed for the cold baskets now. Then this new killing happened. And I fear that the issue will once again come to the fore. I seriously don't have any problems with whether blueline buses remain or go.

Thankfully never had a life threatening brush up with any bus, blueline or DTC (recently a DTC also killed a pedestrian). But I do have a problem when I reach the bus stop to find no buses to reach office. Reach office late and the boss is not ready to accept this as a valid excuse for delay. His take- hire an auto rickshaw. Now who tells him that even auto rickshaw wallahs have raised their bills to take advantage of the situation. I accept that I am acting a little selfish, but everyone is directed by some or other selfish motives. So my honest request to the government is: You can take the blueline buses off the road.

But do ensure that there are substitute buses running. We too are strained when the blueline buses over-speed or when they would drive recklessly or when they would simply stand at a bus stand for long while passengers are sweating. We surely are looking for better standard buses with better service. But don't just take off the private buses until you have buses to substitute the existing ones.

The views expressed here are those of the writer and not necessarily of expressindia.com
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