Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has taken a serious view of frequent accidents involving buses run by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) and ordered implementation of safety measures.
A day after the tragic accident involving an Ama Bus at Rupali Square in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister on Sunday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family of the auto driver who lost his life in the mishap. He also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured student in the tragic accident, which occurred near Rupali Square on Saturday when an Ama Bus collided with an auto-rickshaw, leading to the death of the auto driver and injuries to a student.
Voicing concern over the recurring accidents involving Ama Bus services, CM Majhi directed the Transport Department to coordinate with the operating agency CRUT and take corrective measures. He emphasized the need to improve driver skills through regular training programmes that also address physical and mental health, while fostering sensitivity among drivers through specialized training modules.
Majhi further instructed Motor Vehicle Inspectors to conduct routine fitness checks of buses and asked the Commerce and Transport Department to form a dedicated squad for monitoring bus safety. He stressed that regular reviews must be undertaken to prevent such unfortunate incidents and to bring lasting improvements in the city’s transport system.
Apart from compensation of Rs 4 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, CRUT has announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the family of the deceased auto-rickshaw driver. CRUT will compensate the injured passengers with Rs 50,000 each.
The 55-year-old bus driver has been arrested under culpable homicide section (105) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita. CRUT affirmed that necessary preventive measures will be taken in the future to avoid such accidents, a press release stated.
