BUSES RISK LIVES ON CITY ROADS IN RACE FOR PASSENGERS

THE last week began with a tragic accident on the Najafgarh-Nangloi Road in West Delhi, which resulted in the deaths of two men and left at least two others injured.

- SIDHARTH MISHRA

The incident was caused by two Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) Cluster buses racing against each other to overtake and reach the next stop first. One of the speeding buses ploughed into multiple vehicles, including a scooty, a motorcycle, an e-rickshaw, and several pedestrians.

The buses in the city were not always this menacing. When one arrived in the national Capital in the 1980s, the buses operated by the DTC sustained the city. Disciplined, punctual though over-packed during the peak hours, DTC’s buses were a support in earning livelihood and not, unlike these times, a threat to life.

DTC lost its character, when its workers union decided to go on a strike and then Union Transport Minister, Delhi was then fully under centre, Rajesh Pilot broke the strike brining buses from other states. The strike ended, DTC buses did return but not with the same ‘regal’ identity.