Indore: Protests by transporters and drivers against the new law on hit-and-run cases have hit city bus operations in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore district, with only 75 out of 400 buses operating within the city. Mala Singh Thakur, public relations officer (PRO), AICTSL (Atal Indore City Transport Service Limited), told ANI, “We operate around 400 buses within the city and around 175 buses outside the city and to other states. Bus operations have started.” But after the atmosphere in the surrounding area (referring to protest) on Monday morning, the operation of buses was stopped. Similarly, we started the Bhopal to Indore bus service at 6:30 pm on Monday evening and operated five to six schedules, but after the uproar at ISBT, we stopped it.” “This morning, we operated 25 I-buses and 50 city buses within the city.
Currently, a total of 75 buses are operating in the city. Buses going out of Indore are not being operated right now. The administration is constantly concerned about this matter and soon we will start those buses also.” When he was asked about the problems faced in bus operation on Monday, he further said that there were incidents of vandalism in some buses and some people came and even tried to threaten and vandalize the buses in the depot. Safety of passengers is a priority and keeping their safety in mind it was decided that buses will not be run. Buses operated with complete safety on Tuesday. When asked if the drivers and conductors had agreed to run the bus, the PRO said that everyone was ready and all the staff including drivers and conductors were present at the depot.
Meanwhile, as a result of protests by transporters and drivers, people faced long queues at various fuel stations in the city as well as a rise in the prices of vegetables and fruits. Due to the protest, supply of vegetables and fruits in Devi Ahilya Bai vegetable market was reduced in quantity and as a result the prices of vegetables increased. According to the market in-charge, about 500 to 600 trucks of vegetables and fruits used to arrive in the market every day, but only 150 trucks reached here on Tuesday. Due to which prices also increased and common people had to face problems.
Specifically, under the Indian Penal Code (BNS), which replaced the Indian Penal Code, drivers who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing the police or any administration official can be punished. The punishment can be up to 10 years or a fine of Rs 7 lakh. Earlier in IPC, there was a punishment of two years in such cases. Private transport operators claim the law discourages drivers and could cause them to face unjust penalties. They claim that drivers could become victims of mob violence when they try to take the injured to hospitals and call for the law to be repealed.
