Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, July 10: Expressing serious concern over the two recent STS bus accidents in North and Middle Andaman, Adhyaksh of the North & Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad, Mr. R. Alager Swami, has urged the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to introduce insurance coverage for passengers travelling in government-operated STS buses and strengthen safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Referring to the recent accident near St. Mary School, Sabari, and the latest bus accident at Kishorinagar in Diglipur, Mr. Alager Swami said the back-to-back incidents have raised serious concerns among the people regarding the safety of passengers travelling in State Transport Service buses.
He pointed out that while many experienced STS drivers have retired over the years and new contractual drivers have been engaged, adequate monitoring and safety checks are essential. Referring to the Diglipur accident, he said allegations have surfaced that the driver was under the influence of alcohol, though the matter is under investigation. He urged the Administration to conduct regular checks to ensure that no driver operates a government bus under the influence of alcohol.
Mr. Alager Swami appealed to the Secretary (Transport), Mr. Rajneesh, and the Deputy Commissioner of North & Middle Andaman to initiate the process of providing insurance coverage for passengers travelling in government buses, similar to the insurance available for private commercial vehicles.
He said that in the event of a major accident, insurance coverage would enable affected passengers or their families to receive compensation without unnecessary delay. He recalled that a similar issue had been raised by him during an earlier District Planning Committee meeting and reiterated the need for immediate action.
Drawing a comparison with the marine sector, Mr. Alager Swami said passenger boats operating in the Islands are insured, ensuring compensation through insurance companies in the event of accidents. He stressed that a similar system should be implemented for government buses.
He also urged the Administration and the Chief Secretary to give priority to passenger safety by introducing stricter inspections, strengthening monitoring mechanisms, and ensuring that STS buses are operated safely to avoid such incidents in the future.
