Times of India: Ahmedabad: Saturday,
23 November 2024.
Data obtained from the
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) under the Right to Information (RTI)
suggested that the civic body continued to operate buses through waterlogged
streets, posing risks to passenger safety.
Statistics obtained under the RTI Act showed that during the monsoon this year, 69 Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) buses experienced breakdowns while traversing flooded roads, necessitating crane assistance for recovery. Data further revealed that between 2018 and 2024, flooding-related damages affected 227 buses.
Advocate Atik Saiyed, who obtained the data under the RTI Act, said, "AMTS operates an average of 794 buses, including 626 privately operated buses and 118 under operation-maintenance contracts. In the past seven years, 227 buses were damaged due to waterlogging."
He said that buses are driven on waterlogged roads during the monsoon because contractors are paid per trip, leading to potential damage to buses and passengers. "If buses get stuck, AMTS hires cranes to remove them and pays the crane contractors. Buses get stuck on waterlogged roads during the monsoon, putting passengers' lives at risk. Tenders are issued for private contractors for removing buses stuck on waterlogged roads."
Saiyed added that a thorough investigation into this matter is necessary.
Statistics obtained under the RTI Act showed that during the monsoon this year, 69 Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) buses experienced breakdowns while traversing flooded roads, necessitating crane assistance for recovery. Data further revealed that between 2018 and 2024, flooding-related damages affected 227 buses.
Advocate Atik Saiyed, who obtained the data under the RTI Act, said, "AMTS operates an average of 794 buses, including 626 privately operated buses and 118 under operation-maintenance contracts. In the past seven years, 227 buses were damaged due to waterlogging."
He said that buses are driven on waterlogged roads during the monsoon because contractors are paid per trip, leading to potential damage to buses and passengers. "If buses get stuck, AMTS hires cranes to remove them and pays the crane contractors. Buses get stuck on waterlogged roads during the monsoon, putting passengers' lives at risk. Tenders are issued for private contractors for removing buses stuck on waterlogged roads."
Saiyed added that a thorough investigation into this matter is necessary.
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