Kolkata: State Transport minister Firhad Hakim said that buses without insurance certificate will not be allowed to ply on roads. The move comes in the wake of a number of government buses found to be running with certificates that have lapsed
"I have spoken with the Principal Secretary Transport on this issue. I have asked him to take measures so that buses with expired insurance certificate or without fit certificate do not run on roads. Assistance from the Traffic police will be sought and buses flouting orders will be seized. The direction should be relevant in case of private buses too, " Hakim said.
If the buses with expired insurance certificate get involved in any sort of accident then they are unable to make insurance claim. The compensation is being adjusted from the earning of the driver and conductor of the concerned bus. However, the Transport department has deliberated on the issue and is planning to come up with a common insurance policy for its three different corporations — WBTC, SBSTC and North Bengal State Transport Corporation. The creation of a special fund involving a few crores has been proposed in this regard. Talks have been held with a insurance company for this purpose.
"We will quickly insure the government buses and talks are being held with all concerned authorities to fast track the process," a senior official of the Transport department said.
Tito Saha of Suburban Bus Services complained that penalty to the tune of Rs 5000 is being imposed and in some cases buses are being seized if the insurance is found lapsed.
There are 1500 WBTC buses that include both air conditioned and non-AC. The total number of buses under NBSTC and SBSTC are 1700.