Vijayawada: The high court on Wednesday directed the managing director of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) to ensure that only trained drivers are allowed to drive high-end buses with advanced technology. Observing that deputing untrained drivers on high-end buses is akin to asking a commercial pilot to fly an F-16 fighter aircraft, the bench said flying an F-16 and normal planes are not the same, and this applies to normal buses and those with advanced technology.
One Medikonda George from Pernamitta in Prakasam district moved a PIL in the high court, seeking directions to APSRTC to train its drivers according to the norms in the agreement with bus manufacturers like Volvo. Arguing on behalf of the petitioner, Thandava Yogesh stated that three lives were lost in an accident at Pandit Nehru Bus Station in Vijayawada in November last year due to an “untrained driver”, who rammed a high-end AC bus into passengers waiting at the bus station.
The high court had earlier directed APSRTC managing director Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao to appear before the court virtually, and he attended the court via video conference on Wednesday. The bench directed Rao to give an undertaking stating that only trained drivers will be deputed to drive buses with modern technology. APSRTC counsel Salmon Raj informed the court APSRTC has 479 trained drivers, which is more than the required number as the corporation has 107 Volvo buses for which 321 trained drivers are required.
When APSRTC has excess number of trained drivers, why are untrained drivers being deputed to drive Volvo buses, the bench asked, and instructed Rao to ensure that only trained drivers are deputed on all its high-end buses and closed the petition.
