Punjab pilgrimage buses seized in Uttarakhand over safety violations, missing permits
PTC News Desk: Amid the ongoing controversy involving Uttarakhand Minister Subodh Uniyal and singer Daler Mehndi, authorities have intensified checks on buses arriving from Punjab. During inspections in Haridwar, officials found several violations, including missing permits, unpaid taxes and failures to meet passenger safety standards.
The buses were operating under the Punjab government’s pilgrimage scheme. According to the Haridwar Transport Department, three buses arriving under the scheme were impounded for failing to meet document and safety requirements. Officials said some tourist bus operators were violating rules, causing losses to government revenue and putting passengers’ safety at risk.
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The department said around 10 buses from Punjab arrive in Haridwar daily under the pilgrimage scheme. Five buses have been challaned, while three were seized during the checks. However, after the required fines were paid, the buses were released with warnings.
Varuna Saini, Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) in Haridwar, said around 10 buses linked to the Punjab pilgrimage scheme arrive in the city every day. She claimed that these buses are not registered in Punjab and that most are registered in Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
Buses operating without permits and paying taxes
Saini said the Uttarakhand government had launched a special inspection drive targeting tourist buses. She added that most buses arriving in Haridwar under Punjab’s pilgrimage scheme did not have the required permits and had not paid the applicable taxes.
Anand Vardhan, a Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) with the Haridwar Transport Department, said officials had found alterations to the bodies of several buses.
According to him, many buses had been lengthened to accommodate more seats than permitted. He explained that the section behind the rear wheels should account for 60% under the applicable standard, but in the inspected buses, it ranged from 70% to 77%.
No emergency exit doors or windows
Vardhan said one of the most serious safety concerns was the absence of emergency exit doors and windows in the buses. Under the rules, tourist buses should have a full emergency exit door at the rear and an emergency window in the middle. However, the inspected buses did not meet these requirements.
The MVI also said that none of the inspected buses had an anti-fire system. He noted that such systems are required in air-conditioned tourist buses because the risk of fire can be higher in these vehicles.
Officials also found that several buses had more seats than allowed under the prescribed standards. Vardhan said the buses had been lengthened to fit additional seats, which amounted to a violation of safety rules.
Passenger safety at risk
Vardhan warned that extending the buses and adding extra seats could lead to overcrowding and put passengers’ lives at risk. He also stressed that the absence of emergency exits could make it difficult for passengers to escape in an emergency.
According to Saini, the bus operators requested time to correct the defects and assured officials that they would bring the vehicle lengths in line with the prescribed standards. She said the operators collected their impounded buses after depositing the required security amount. They were warned that if the buses returned without meeting the rules, they could be permanently seized.
Vardhan said operators contracted by the Punjab government must ensure that their buses meet all passenger safety requirements. He added that the government should also ensure that the buses being used under its scheme comply with the applicable rules and safety standards.
- PTC NEWS
