Government bus drivers with distinct record of accident-free service script new story | India News
NEW DELHI: Eajaz Ahamed Sharif from Mysore and Anand Kumar from Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh were two of the 42 drivers of state road transport corporation (SRTC) buses who were recognised for their unique distinction of ‘accident-free service’ for years this week. While Sharif, a driver with Karnataka SRTC, has maintained this record for 33 years, Kumar working with the UP SRTC has a similar record for eight years.
Sharif will retire in the next three months. “I will retire with satisfaction that I ensured safe journeys to passengers travelling in my bus. It’s a tough task. I consider all passengers as my family members. As I am concerned about my family members safety, I feel it’s my duty to see that my passengers reach home safely,” he told TOI.
He said before getting onto the bus, he offers prayer, checks steering and brakes, drives the bus for a few meters to check everything is fine and then starts for the journey. On an average, he drives the bus for 350-400 km in a day.
The Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU) under the road transport ministry felicitated the ‘Super 42’ divers this year who have a track record of ‘zero accident’ for the past 8-38 years. Kedari Tammanna Bakari, a driver with the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, has held the record of 38 years of accident-free service
While a maximum of 12 such drivers were from Tamil Nadu, six were from Karnataka, five from Maharashtra and two each from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana and Assam. Only one driver each from Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and Uttarakhand received the award for their record as safe drivers.
Anand Kumar, who came with his daughter to receive the award said he doesn’t violate the speed limit or get influenced by passengers or conductors while on the job. “Ek-do savari ki chakkar mein 50 logon ko risk mein nehin dal skata (I can’t put 50 people at risk just because of one or two passengers). Sometimes conductors urge me to speed, but I don’t listen to them. They will flee in case of an accident; only I will be held. I don’t overtake,” he said.
Both Kumar and Sharif said drivers should focus on the safety of passengers and must not violate speed limits. They also shared concerns about the unsafe behaviour of two-wheeler riders on the road.
In an official release, the road transport ministry said, “The top 17 drivers have all crossed recorded service of 30 years without an accident in their entire service. Currently, 80 SRTUs jointly operate approximately 1.5 lakh buses and provide affordable and safer mobility to about 70 million passengers.”
It added that with regard to SRTUs, the road accidents involving such buses is less than 1%.
Sharif will retire in the next three months. “I will retire with satisfaction that I ensured safe journeys to passengers travelling in my bus. It’s a tough task. I consider all passengers as my family members. As I am concerned about my family members safety, I feel it’s my duty to see that my passengers reach home safely,” he told TOI.
He said before getting onto the bus, he offers prayer, checks steering and brakes, drives the bus for a few meters to check everything is fine and then starts for the journey. On an average, he drives the bus for 350-400 km in a day.
The Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU) under the road transport ministry felicitated the ‘Super 42’ divers this year who have a track record of ‘zero accident’ for the past 8-38 years. Kedari Tammanna Bakari, a driver with the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, has held the record of 38 years of accident-free service
While a maximum of 12 such drivers were from Tamil Nadu, six were from Karnataka, five from Maharashtra and two each from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana and Assam. Only one driver each from Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and Uttarakhand received the award for their record as safe drivers.
Anand Kumar, who came with his daughter to receive the award said he doesn’t violate the speed limit or get influenced by passengers or conductors while on the job. “Ek-do savari ki chakkar mein 50 logon ko risk mein nehin dal skata (I can’t put 50 people at risk just because of one or two passengers). Sometimes conductors urge me to speed, but I don’t listen to them. They will flee in case of an accident; only I will be held. I don’t overtake,” he said.
Both Kumar and Sharif said drivers should focus on the safety of passengers and must not violate speed limits. They also shared concerns about the unsafe behaviour of two-wheeler riders on the road.
In an official release, the road transport ministry said, “The top 17 drivers have all crossed recorded service of 30 years without an accident in their entire service. Currently, 80 SRTUs jointly operate approximately 1.5 lakh buses and provide affordable and safer mobility to about 70 million passengers.”
It added that with regard to SRTUs, the road accidents involving such buses is less than 1%.
