The Uttar Pradesh government is all set to start surprise checking of drivers of UP State Road Transport Corporation buses to examine whether they are inebriated or not while driving the bus.
The checking will be done at toll plazas or petrol pumps where drivers will have to undergo breath analyser test.
An announcement to this effect was made by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna in the Assembly on Friday.
Khanna said that a three-member committee set up after a recent accident on Yamuna Expressway had suggested surprise checking of drivers and the government had accepted the suggestion.
The minister said that the enquiry into the Yamuna Expressway mishap had found no lapse on the part of UPSRTC as far as physical condition of driver and his knowledge about the route was concerned.
“The driver was sent as per norms but as his autopsy report shows, that he died due to drowning hence it cannot be ascertained whether he was drunk or he dozed off. Besides, the driver had travelled on that route at least 7 to 8 times so there was no question of his not knowing the route,” he said.
Recently, a UPSRTC Janrath bus carrying 45 passengers plunged into a nullah on Yamuna Expressway, killing at least 30 people, including the driver.
Khanna clarified that there was no violation of duty by the driver as he joined duty at 11 pm on the fateful day after three days’ leave. Besides, he crossed the toll plaza and after 7 km, the bus met with the accident, the minister added.
“Eyewitness said that the bus dragged 50 metres before plunging into the nullah after breaking the fencing of the bridge. Initially, we thought that the driver had suffered a heart attack but the autopsy said that the cause of death was drowning,” he said.
As per norms, working hours of a driver is 8 hours per day with 48 hours a week and in extra ordinary circumstances, a maximum of 54 hours a week. Besides, a driver is eligible for 30-minute break after five hours of driving.