Kolkata: A public department guideline released on Friday asked bus operators to explore alternative incentive mechanisms for drivers and conductors instead of the commission-based system.
Transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty, too, had earlier called for the abolition of the commission system in the private bus sector. The new guideline's indication of following up on Chakraborty's plan came around three weeks after the death of a student near Salt Lake Gate, where speeding buses were one of the factors. At a meeting after the accident, the commission system was identified as a major cause of accidents. Officials said drivers and conductors violated safety rules to snatch away passengers from other buses, as their earnings were nothing but the commission from ticket sales.
The guideline issued by transport secretary Saumitra Mohan stressed the importance of the Safe Drive Save Life initiative and urged operators to verify drivers' credentials before engaging them. Any violation of the norms would first lead to the impounding of drivers' or conductors' licences and subsequently, cancellation, it said. While it emphasised on road rules, it also said the bus crew should have restricted hours to avoid fatigue.
The guideline made it compulsory for drivers to use an app for real-time location tracking, route monitoring and ensuring compliance.
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