Srinagar, Apr 25: Most of the passenger in the Valley do not adhere to the parameters set in Motor Vehicles Act, causing inconvenience to the passengers.
 Sources in the Regional Transport Office revealed that during the fitness check, the concerned officers’ neglect essential guidelines required for passing the vehicles.
 “During the fitness check it was found that the seats have to be welded rather than screwed. Besides the prescribed space between the seats has not been maintained,” sources said.
 The passengers blamed the concerned authorities for failing to maintain specified parameters in the buses. “It is shameful to call them buses. The only difference is that they cater to passengers; otherwise they are like goods carriers,” said Ali Muhammad of Soura.
 “There is little legroom, which forces many passengers to vacate the seats and travel standing. Though the concerned authorities launched drive against such offenders, but it largely remained unsuccessful,” said an octogenarian Ghulam Ahmad.
 Experts said enforcement of the MVD Act was the collective responsibility of traffic police and the RTO. The former has the powers of imposing fine on the vehicles found violating the guidelines while the later can cancel the registration.
 RTO also posses powers of taking legal action against the company that has regular complaints against it.
 However Regional Transport Officer Kashmir, Muhammad Anees blames traffic police. “They (Traffic police) are on the spot and can take action against the offenders. We remain in office and also our enforcement division is limited,” the RTO said.
 However, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Shoket Hussain has different take on the issue and said “no action was taken against the vehicles sent for cancellation of permits to RTO.”
 “We sent a list of 99 vehicles during past several years for permit cancellation. But the RTO didn’t cancel it rather suspended it for few days. During past three months 109 altered passenger vehicles were fined,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST