A recent deadly bus accident in Sivaganga district — near Tirupattur — that killed 11 people has sparked renewed demands to ease the working-hour restrictions for government bus drivers.
TMC leader Vasan — responding to the tragedy — urged state transport authorities to relax rigid duty-hour rules for bus drivers, arguing that current regulations might be contributing to staff shortages or overwork.
He also called for the compensation for victims’ families to be raised to ₹10 lakh.
The demand comes amid wider concerns over long hours and fatigue among bus drivers — a factor often linked to accidents, especially in intercity and overnight operations under understaffed conditions.
With road-safety experts emphasising that prolonged driving without rest increases accident risk, the call from TMC is likely to ignite fresh debate over balancing driver welfare and commuter safety in Tamil Nadu’s public transport sector.
