Nagpur: Thousands of commuters faced significant disruption during Thursday morning's rush hours after a midnight directive from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) transport department forced nearly 90% of the city's diesel bus fleet off the roads. The order, issued following a protest by Shiv Sena (UBT) over bus safety concerns, directed operators not to allow any defective bus for 'Out Shedding' until repairs were completed. Services were partially restored later in the day after the civic body revoked the blanket restriction and granted operators 15 days for repair work.
Midnight Directive Sparks Chaos
The order was communicated around 11:30 PM on Wednesday, leaving operators virtually no time to prepare for morning services. Operators claimed the instructions were abrupt, causing widespread disruption for daily commuters who rely on public transport. The directive came after a meeting between transport officials and Shiv Sena (UBT) representatives, where several safety concerns were raised, including faulty hand brakes, missing fire extinguishers and first-aid kits, broken windows, and irregular electrical safety inspections. Allegations that defective buses were being operated on roads were also highlighted.
NMC's Stance on Safety
The NMC order instructed operators to conduct thorough inspections and ensure no defective vehicle was deployed. A compliance report was sought within 24 hours. However, operators and transport department insiders alleged that instead of providing time for repairs or imposing penalties, the civic administration effectively grounded buses overnight, severely affecting public transport services. A transport source stated, 'In public transport systems, operators are usually given 7-10 days to rectify defects while penalties are imposed for delays. Here, buses were stopped, crippling services overnight.'
Partial Restoration and Criticism
Transport committee chairperson Mangala Khekre admitted that diesel bus services remained disrupted during the first half of Thursday. However, she noted that the department later revoked the 'blanket diktat' issued by transport manager Meghna Wasankar and allowed operators 15 days to complete repairs. Transport manager and deputy municipal commissioner Meghna Wasankar was not available for comment. Khekre termed the move 'hasty', stating that at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to citizens to use public transport and reduce fuel consumption, disrupting bus services was not acceptable.
Underlying Issues
Sources also claimed that spare-part shortages worsened maintenance issues, with components allegedly being removed from off-road buses to keep operational vehicles running. The official communication additionally flagged allegations that mechanical staff employed by a private operator were not receiving minimum wages. Civic officials, however, maintained that passenger safety cannot be compromised, and buses with safety defects cannot be allowed on roads until repairs are completed.
This incident highlights the challenges in balancing operational efficiency with safety standards in public transport systems. The NMC's swift reversal of the order indicates a recognition of the need for a more measured approach, allowing operators adequate time to address defects without disrupting daily commutes.
