[Attachment(s) from Jagdeep DESAI included below]
2011 JAN 05
Namaskar,
In reference to this report
Why does th BEST administration turn a blind eye to the utter indiscipline and mutiny by BEST drivers everyday.
Its a real absurd situation where the BEST has actually to organise a Safety Week, at least on paper, to show that it is concerned with safety.
Surely, safety is a twenty four hour, three sixty five days subject, not a seven day festival.
Not only that, for all they are concerned, the BEST drivers couldn't care less, safety week or not, they will continue to defy all traffic rules, traffic etiquette, and the BEST Traffic Manual, and the administration won't be able to do anything about it, thanks to the unions.
Besides, reported accidents are only a small percentage of the overall driving sense of these rash, reckless, dangerous BEST drivers.
Most incidents and accidents are not reported, and they occur n an hourly basis.
Unless these are addressed, safety weeks will come and go, but BEST drivers will not get disciplined, and the pedestrians, other motorists, passengers will be subject to terror on the roads of Mumbai by the thousands of such huge public vehicles
Thanqx.
Jagdeep DESAI
Secretary
Founder Trustee
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs
>>>
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking launched its own Road Safety Week at its Technical Training Centre located at the Wadala bus depot, on Friday.
The BEST undertaking, which is also referred to as the 'second lifeline' of Mumbai, is grappling with a serious problem of bus accidents. Through a series of week-long exercises with the bus drivers, officials from the Transport Wing of the BEST are hopeful about motivating its drivers to minimise, if not completely avoid, bus accidents.
A senior official from the Transport Wing, who spoke with DNA on the condition of anonymity, said that the exercises involve counselling sessions, lectures by senior officials at the Drivers' Training School, documentary screenings in a special 'Training Van' and meditation techniques to increase concentration. The road safety week was started with a special felicitation ceremony of 25 drivers who have served the undertaking for over 15 years without being involved in any accidents. In addition to that, 25 drivers with a high accident record were counselled. The senior official explained: "We had taken a representative driver each from all the 25 bus depots of the BEST in the city. About 15-20 %f the total number of bus drivers of BEST have no accident record. We thought, if those drivers with a high accident record listened to drivers with an unblemished record, they will be motivated to be better drivers. The administration's emphasis is on behavioural change of the bus drivers. Accidents usually happen because drivers are in a hurry to finish their trips so that they can get some rest. We want to make them realise that, apart from the victims, they themselves go through a lot of avoidable stress."
The number of persons killed or sustained "serious" and "minor" injuries have all jumped substantially in 2010, as compared to 2009. As per the BEST's official records, there were at least 48 deaths, 207 serious and 534 minor injuries. While in 2009, the numbers stood at 39 deaths, 182 serious and 564 minor injuries.
>>>
On Wed, Dec 15, 2010 at 5:19 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:
2010 DEC 15
The MembersBEST CommitteeNamaskar,In reference to this report on the increasing number of accidents by BEST drivers, etc.It is good that your good selves are already sensitised to the deterioration in discipline by BEST drivers.You may be aware of the BEST Traffic Manual, as attached, and on these links
With particular reference to Sections 63, 68, 74, 85, 106, 107, 112, 113, inclusive, but not exhaustiveThis is a document which all BEST drivers, supervisors, line inspectors, conductors, depot staff, etc., are supposed to follow.It is obvious they are not, either due to ignorance, or due to indifference.Your good offices will bring back the required discipline.In the early and mid 1970s, my school used to hire BEST buses as school buses.I had very pleasant times, the drivers and conductors were courteous, gentle with children, wore their uniforms, were on time, drove safely, stopped near the bus stops, rang the bell for halting and starting.Nowadays, the drivers and conductors only wear part of their uniform, ie, shirt and trousers, sometimes the top two shirt buttons are open, cap is totally missing, and instead of shoes, sandals, even slippers are worn, some use gutkha on duty, etc.This gives a very shoddy appearance to the staff.They need to come to work in a decent manner.Once BEST was the pride of the country.Nowadays, it is giving a not so good impression.It is therefore in the BEST interests of all concerned, that your good selves, take all the concerned into confidence and get all round cooperation, to restore the image, and once again become the BEST.Thanqx.Jagdeep DESAISecretaryFounder TrusteeForum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs>>>
On Tue, Dec 7, 2010 at 7:54 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:
2010 DEC 07The Public Information OfficerThe Public Relations OfficerBESTDear sirs,The following information may be kindly be provided at the earliest after this report was published in The Times of India, 2010 DEC 06Thanqx.Jagdeep DESAISecretaryFounder TrusteeForum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs
>>>BEST drivers at their worst, offences up 7 times in 5 yrs
Shibu Thomas TNN
Mumbai: The BEST's safety record has taken a nosedive. Over the last five years, the number of traffic offences involving buses belonging to the undertaking has shot up well over seven times — from 356 in 2005 to 2,551 in 2009.
In the last one year alone, six persons have died and over 21 injured after being run over by BEST buses.
The BEST's dubious record was submitted to the Bombay High Court last week by the traffic police in response to a public interest litigation about road discipline. A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Shahrukh Kathawalla have
now asked the police to furnish a detailed list of the traffic offences committed by BEST buses.
A look at the statistics reveals that the most common offence committed by BEST drivers is jumping signals. BEST inspectors monitor all bus drivers, says undertaking's PRO
In 2005, of the 356 cases, 307 were of jumping signals and the undertaking paid Rs 22,000 as fine. The next year, the cases dipped marginally to 271, of which 227 were for jumping signal. The number thereafter has steadily climbed in the subsequent years — in 2007, the figures stood at 643 and 224, respectively, and in 2008, 1,187 and 612. Last year, BEST buses were hauled up for 2,551 traffic violations. Of them, 1,621 were cases of jumping signal, 67 cases of rash driving and speeding and 22 cases of lane cutting. The undertaking paid Rs 1.8 lakh in fines.
Advocate Armin Wanderwala, who has filed a petition seeking implementation of road safety rules, told the court that BEST buses are frequent offenders. "They jump signals, cut lanes and ignore the safety of pedestrians crossing the road," said Wanderwala.
Andheri-Lokhandwala resident Nitesh Kumar agrees. "Instead of stopping for pedestrians to cross, BEST buses come hurtling down to take free left turns," said Kumar. "Rarely would one find buses stopping near the bus stop at designated spots. Many drivers hardly bother to check if passengers are getting in or getting down before driving off," he added.
When contacted, BEST PRO N A Walavalkar said that the undertaking gives priority to safety. "Departmental inquiries are initiated against drivers caught speeding. The BEST traffic officers and inspectors regularly monitor bus stops and traffic signals to ensure that drivers follow traffic rules," said Walavalkar, adding that their drivers are trained at their training centre.
Questioned about the growing number of BEST buses involved in traffic violations, Walavalkar lamely explained: "Over the last few years, the number of BEST buses has gone up to 5,000. There has been a proportional increase in the number of drivers.">>>
APPLICATION FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION UNDERTHE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005
The Public Information OfficerBRIHAN MUMBAI ELECTRIC SUPPLY AND TRANSPORT, BESTBEST Parivahan BhavanShahid Bhagat Singh MargColabaMumbai 400 001Particulars of information requiredi] Subject matter of informationa] The objective, aims and other factors in setting up the BEST Traffic Manual, and the operating system as onWith particular reference to Sections 63, 68, 74, 85, 106, 107, 112, 113, inclusive, but not exhaustiveii] The period to which the information relatesCurrent and valid upto dateiii] Description of the information requireda] Is the BEST Traffic Manual, BTM, under reference current and valid, mandatory, binding, and obligatory for all BEST employees and contract, daily wage , and any other workers appointed by BEST, and is any category of BEST staff exemptb] When was the BTM, under reference, last updated, under which officer BEST's supervision, and and by which officer of BESTc] What is the provision in the BTM, for taking any punitive action against those BEST employees, staff, who do not follow the BEST Traffic Manuald] Is there any plan to change and replace certain derogatory terms contained within the BTM, such as, 'scavenger', and 'widow', with acceptable ones like 'housekeeper', and 'economically weaker sections', etc.e] Who is responsible for the inclusion of these terms, and in case these were done departmentally, which officer of BEST has permitted these type of terms continuing to be used in the BTM, and when will these terms be removed from the BTM, and other such textf] What are the provisions being implemented to ascertain the BEST Inspectors, BEST Assistant Traffic Officers, BEST Drivers, BEST Conductors, and all those employees and staff as set out in the various Sections of the BTM, under reference, are carrying out the specific duties, responsibilities, directions, guidelines, norms, instructions, etc., as set out in the said BTM, etc.g] What are the punitive provisions for those employees who do not follow the BTMh] How many BEST employees, inspectors, officers, supervisors, drivers, conductors, have been so punished, or dismissed from BEST, if at all, with details thereofi] What are the conditions, and criteria to locate and set up BEST bus stops, BEST bus shelters, at various locations in Mumbaij] What are the different types of BEST bust stops, and BEST bus sheltersj] The up to date position of BEST bus stops, and shelters that have been planned, built, and being built, or contracted to be built, as the case may be, in Mumbai and Brihan Mumbai, including in relation with the Mumbai Metro, and Monorail, with exact numbers, locations, and photographs of present situation at the said locations, with each BEST bus route, whether on the road, on the foot path, on flyovers, road over bridge over railway lines, whether any trees, lamp posts, electricity, telephone junction boxes, unauthorised stalls, vendors, unathorised parking, illegal structures, encroachments, etc., are in any way obstructing waiting passengers or buses, etc., and what is the latest audit report of such BEST bus stops and BEST bus shelters, and which do not conform to the standards, and minimum requirements for BEST bus passengers, and what is BEST doing to keep BEST bus stops and BEST bus shelters clear from autos and taxis waiting for CNG filling at nearby CNG station during day and nightk] Details of specifications, plans, elevatons, sections, and dimensions of such BEST bus stops, and BEST bus shelters as planned and as existingl] Total numbers of BEST buses in the fleet, in operation, and in reserve, with detailed breakup of each, in terms of engine type, ordinary or air conditioned, carrying capacity, cost of procurement, maintenance, fuel consumption, average revenue per passenger per type of bus, revenue versus fuel consumption per type of bus, revenue per BEST employee, etc.m] The total numbers and location details of each and every BEST depot, terminal, yard, parking garages, mechanical workshop, office buildings, residential quarters, and other real estate assets owned by BEST, in terms of square metres, and market value of each, individually as on 2010 DECn] Which such real estate assets of BEST have been sold, leased, or in any other way disposed off, along with details of location of the said assets in Mumbai, area in square metres, original purchase price, price received for the lease or sale, what is being done with the money so received as on 2010 DECo] What are the future plans and policies of BEST in terms of introducing BRTS, mini buses, micro buses, limousine service for executives, point to point services, utilistation of flyovers on Western Express Highway, Eastern Express Highway, and inter city services, within Mumbai Metropolitan Region, especially in relation to Mumbai Metro, Mumbai Monorailiv] Whether information is required by post or in personBy email in English within the prescribed time periodWhether the applicant is below the poverty lineNot applicablePlace : MumbaiDate : 2010 DEC 10>>>
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Attachment(s) from Jagdeep DESAI
1 of 1 File(s)
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