The Delhi Transport Department will take many precautions to avoid accidents involving government buses in the capital region.
Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot authorized the restrictions at a meeting on July 29, according to the department.
“These new measures will help us monitor and manage our bus operations more effectively, reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing overall safety standards,” according to the minister.
The government has decided to implement Aadhar-based duty allocation for drivers to ensure that drivers are not assigned double shifts. Recent incidents have raised concerns that some drivers may be performing multiple duties in a day.
According to the rules, the regular shifts of bus drivers are for eight hours a day. A biometric face recognition system will also be installed in all depots to monitor drivers performing multiple shifts.
Apart from this, breath-analyzers tests will be implemented at each depot to prevent drunk and driving incidents.
Regular medical check-ups for drivers will be mandatory. In DTC, medical check-ups are conducted at the time of induction, every five years after the age of 45, and annually after the age of 55, which will be followed for cluster drivers as well.
The health department has nominated six hospitals for these medical check-ups, and DTC and cluster drivers will be referred to these facilities for their regular health evaluations.
The government will also conduct periodic training of drivers on simulators. The procurement of two simulators is in progress by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). Training sessions for DTC drivers are currently being conducted at the Nand Nagri Depot.
Further, a common pool of DTC drivers will be created, allowing concessionaires to appoint drivers as needed. This pool will be linked with Aadhaar numbers to monitor driver activity across DTC and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Limited (DIMTS).
“This measure will ensure that drivers blacklisted by one department or operator are not hired by another,” the department said in a statement.
Regular workshops will be conducted to sensitize drivers, with training provided at the time of induction and regular refresher courses after that, the department said.
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