Taking cognisance of two and four-wheeler owners continuously violating rules by entering dedicated Bus Rapid Transit Sys tem (BRTS) lanes and indulging in verbal and physical spats with wardens deployed by Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML), civic authorities have now instructed wardens not to stop defaulters and instead jot down the registration numbers of their vehicles.
However, there is a catch -if a particular rider or driver breaks the rule and hisher number appears rarely, she will not be punished. Only frequent offenders will have to face the music from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) or the traffic police either.
Speaking to Mirror, Mayura Shindekar, PMPML CEO (BRTS), said that despite putting dedicated signage boards at the BRTS entrance on various routes, drivers and riders continue to enter the lanes.
“Initially, the wardens, deployed on the BRTS routes to restrict unauthorised vehicles, would stop the drivers, other than PMPML buses, ambulances and fire brigade vehicles. However, drivers would argue with the wardens and there were even some physical spats,“ she said.
Shindekar added that even a few days ago, one of the wardens was knocked down by a speeding motorist at one of the BRTS corridors.
“As complaints started pouring in from the wardens, we instructed them not to stop the drivers and instead simply jot down the vehicles’ registration numbers,“ she said, explaining that wardens have started taking down numbers for a week now. “We are chalking out a further course of action and will be discussing this with the traffic police and RTO officials,“ she said. When asked why only regular defaulters will be facing action, Shindekar said there are drivers who enter the corridors. BRTS has decided not to take any action against them.
Speaking to Mirror, Sarang Awad, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said they have not received any formal notification from the BRTS cell.However, they are empowered to take action against the violators once the list of vehicle registration numbers is given to them.
Sandip Wagaskar, a warden at the BRTS corridors at Deccan College, Yerwada, said there are over 100 two-wheelers and four-wheelers entering the corridors every day. “However, when we try to stop them, they hurl abuses at us and sometimes even try to run us down. There are motorists with political clout who forcefully enter the corridors on a regular basis. It becomes impossible for us to stop them.“
Wagaskar added that they have been jotting down the registration numbers and giving the list to the main office, which will hopefully take some action against these violators.
Source : Pune Mirror
