Safety concerns grow as Kochi roads see repeat violence involving bus crew

Recurring incidents of unruly behaviour of a section of private bus crew have raised public concern.

At least five cases of such attacks were reported from the city in the past two months.

In the latest incident, the Elamakkara police have arrested a 30-year-old bus driver —Mansoor Marakkar of Thevakkal, Thrikkakara— for allegedly engaging in a verbal dispute with fellow motorists after obstructing public road near Edappally Post Office. The bus he was driving has been seized by the police.

Recently, the Central police had arrested three employees of a bus —M.Z. Nahas, M.Z. Nasrudeen, and Bristo Mathews— for allegedly beating an autorickshaw driver near the Ernakulam North Town Hall on August 28. The police later found the bus had around 200 pending traffic fine challans and moved to cancel its registration and permit.

Earlier in August, employees of another private bus were arrested for allegedly assaulting three women and two men near the Ernakulam North following an argument.

The incidents in July pertain to the alleged assault of a two-wheeler-riding lawyer following a dispute over reckless driving with the staff of a bus, and the attack on a passenger who intervened during a clash between the staff of two other buses over trip timings.

District police chief (Kochi City) Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said the instruction to make police clearance certificate (PCC) mandatory for bus crew will be implemented strictly in the wake of the repeated incidents.

He cited the highly competitive nature in the sector, mainly caused by the tight trip schedules, as a major reason fuelling road rage and confrontations.

The officer said a proposed QR code-based checkpoint system is expected to improve the situation.

Special drive

The Motor Vehicles department (MVD), meanwhile, conducted a special drive in the district recently, during which cases were registered against 81 buses. A cumulative fine of ₹1,21,250 was imposed on the offenders.

Enforcement RTO Biju Isaac said that although the PCC was made mandatory following frequent complaints last year, many employees have been found to be without the certificate. He urged bus operators to ensure that their employees do not engage in criminal behaviour. “The public should also lodge complaints whenever they come across unruly behaviour or violations of rules,” he said.

The Ernakulam Private Bus Operators Association said it supported the police and the MVD in reining in criminal elements in the sector. “The vehicles often involved in such incidents are not our members. We have denied membership to around 60 buses that were found to be frequently causing trouble,” K.B. Suneer, president of the association, said.

Mr. Suneer, however, cited practical difficulties in obtaining PCCs for employees and urged the authorities to relax the norms and issue clearance to those booked for minor offences.