Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Mar 17: Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim on Tuesday March 17 urged DCP Vishnuvardhan to strictly implement the seat belt rule for four-wheel drivers in the city.
Addressing a road safety committee meeting at his office here, the DC said that as in most other places, the seat belt should be made compulsory for drivers in Mangaluru too, as not wearing seat belts amounts to violation of law.
In response, the DCP said that not wearing seat belts is a punishable offence and the police officials will impose fines in the coming days on those who do not follow this rule.
Referring to the accident that occurred at Nanthoor on November 26, 2014 wherein two students died, the DC questioned the RTO as to why there were no doors installed in buses. and pointed out that if there had been a door to the bus involved in the accident, the students' lives would have been saved.
Afzal Ahmed Khan, RTO in reply said that there is provision to install doors for buses, including city buses, and added that in Bengaluru all buses have doors. However, the president of Canara Bus Operators' Association (CBOA) Rajavarma Ballal disagreed and said that in Bengaluru private buses do not have doors, and stood firm on his point of view.
Nevertheless, the DC asked the RTO officials and the police department to look into the issue of installing doors in buses and ensure that it is implemented soon.
DC A B Ibrahim also asked the MCC officials about the installation of 31 speed breakers in the city, to which Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) commissioner Hephsiba Korlapati said that the MCC has already installed the speed breakers and but is yet to install sign boards.
Hephsiba Korlapati further said that bus stops will be constructed in 17 places in MCC limits, and that the plan would be ready within a week. The DC ordered the MCC officials to use interlocks for the construction.
On receiving complaints from the public, the DC urged the RTO officials to randomly check measures for seating arrangements in buses for ladies, the handicapped and the senior citizens. He also asked the officials to give special attention to horns used by the buses.
The DC said more meetings will be held in the coming days to find solutions to road safety concerns in the city.
Installation of CCTVs
During the meeting, DC A B Ibrahim gave one month's deadline to install CCTVs in all religious places in the district.
"CCTVs are helpful for everyone and these days a lot of crimes are happening. CCTVs will help police officers to catch the culprits in no time," the DC said.
DC Ibrahim ordered the installation of CCTVs in important places like KSRTC bus stand, malls, theatres, government offices, MESCOM counters, bars and restaurants, schools and colleges, courts, petrol bunks, all the markets and specially temples, mosques and churches within a month.
DCP Santhosh Babu said, "CCTVs should be installed to stop untoward incidents. Cameras should also be installed in buses. Passengers should feel safe to travel in buses and each and every blind spot in the KSRTC bus stand should be covered. There are cameras of high as well as low qualities, and it is better to install 1080p cameras for better resolution."
The DCP also promised that he would come help out in installing of cameras if required. "A minimum of 4-5 cameras should be installed at religious places and one camera should be facing the road," he urged.
Assistant DC Sadashiva Prabhu, assistant MCC commissioner Kantharaj and others were also present on the occasion.