Chennai, Feb 8: In response to a recent incident where a woman passenger fell through a hole in the floor of an MTC bus, Transport Minister SS Sivasankar has issued directives to the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) to ensure the safety of all buses by conducting thorough inspections of their body conditions before operation.The minister’s directive comes as a proactive measure to prevent similar accidents and ensure passenger safety. Sources indicate that the minister has instructed MTC authorities to refrain from operating buses that are found to be in subpar condition, emphasising the importance of maintaining a high standard of safety and maintenance across the fleet.
The MTC, which currently operates a fleet of 3,422 buses with a scheduled service of 3,233 buses, typically operates nearly 3,000 buses on a daily basis. However, concerns have been raised about the aging infrastructure of the MTC fleet, with the average age of buses reaching 9.76 years due to the absence of new additions in the past four years. Alarmingly, approximately 600 MTC buses are over 15 years old, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive maintenance and modernization efforts.
The incident that prompted the minister’s directive occurred on Tuesday when a woman passenger was traveling on MTC bus route no. 59 between Vallalar Nagar and Thiruverkadu. Following the accident, the managing director of MTC took swift action by suspending the manager and technical assistant of the Basin Bridge bus depot for their oversight in maintenance duties.