Rs 3,000 fine for BMTC, KSRTC drivers for talking on mobile while driving

BMTC, KSRTC drivers found talking on mobile while driving will be fined KSRTC, BMTC vacant posts will be filled; applications will be called soon. Vehicles from other states polluting while driving inside State will be fined Green Tax. 900 new buses for Northeast division will be given this year

Drivers of Bengaluru Metropolitcan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses will be fined Rs 3000 for talking on mobile while driving and for overspeeding, said Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy. He was answering public calls in the ‘Hello Minister’ phone-in programme on Kannada Prabha- Suvarna News on Sunday.

Responding to a query by one Gopal from Hassan, the minister said earlier the fine for overspeeding or talking on mobile while driving was Rs 300, which the State wanted to increase to Rs 500. However, the Central Government meanwhile increased the fine to Rs 3000. The rules will soon come into force, reported Kannada Prabha.

It is found that conductors, drivers and depot officials are violating norms. It is the duty of the conductor to facilitate senior citizens, women and differently abled get the seats reserved for them, he said. The online examination held in 2016 for various posts in BMTC and KSRTC has failed due to technical glitch. Currently talks are being held with Karnataka Examination Authority to conduct new examination for the same candidates and vacant posts will be filled up, he said.

The vehicles that enter the State are polluting the atmosphere with dense smoke. There has been a demand to impose Green Tax on the out of state vehicles, similar to State vehicles for polluting the atmosphere with thick smoke. This will be implemented after consideration, he assured.

Responding to an allegation that old buses are allocated to North Karnataka region, he said all government buses that have run for 9 lakh km will be scrapped. By August, 900 new buses will be sanctioned for northeast region. Next year 750 buses will be replaced. The northeastern region is facing problems and they will be sorted, he assured.

Answering to a question by one Syed of Mysuru, the minister said the department has appealed to the government to reduce the registration fee of vehicles. After reply from the government vehicle registration fee will be reduced, he said.