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 | Killer Wheels: There were 53 deaths involving BEST buses in 2006-07.
PIC/SHADAB KHAN |
The numbers say it all. Of the 10,500 BEST bus drivers, 9,447 — that’s around 90 per cent — have been involved in accidents in 2006-07.
Just last evening, one person died and another was injured after their bike was hit by a BEST bus near Nirankari Nagar bus stop in Sion at 7 pm.
Vishwanath Borate was driving the bus (route no 489, Dahisar to Ghatkopar).
However, a departmental inquiry was conducted in only 981 cases.
“No enquiry is conducted on a driver if the bus is involved in a minor accident,” explained a BEST official.
“Just an entry is made in the driver’s service record,” the official added. The driver is suspended or removed from service only if he is involved in a fatal accident. Otherwise, he is spared with a warning.
Pending enquiries
The BEST believes that unless there is a loss of life, it is not considered as a major accident. “If an accident with a BEST bus results in a fracture, that too is considered minor.
But the driver is held guilty if he damages any BEST property,” said Sanjay Potnis, chairman of the BEST Committee.
Using this logic, BEST records shows only 56 major accidents in 2006-07. And only 10 drivers were dismissed from service last year.
“Several drivers were suspended for some period, while some had their grade reduced. Enquiries against other drivers are still pending,” said a BEST official.
‘We’re innocent’
But despite the mind-boggling numbers against them, drivers defend themselves. “We don’t cause accidents intentionally. People too aren’t careful while crossing the road or at signals.
Some passengers also jump off the bus at signals. How can we stop them?” said a BEST driver from Borivli.
Assistant PRO of BEST, Sudhir Jagirdar, added, “Our drivers are not to be blamed every time any accident takes place. There are various other reasons like traffic jams, congestion of roads by the taxi/auto drivers, etc.
If there is a scratch on vehicles, why are only our drivers blamed, why not those driving the other vehicle?”
3,400
The number of BEST buses
in Mumbai
200 km
That’s how much one BEST covers in a day
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