Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) deluxe buses continued to ferry passengers with open doors on Wednesday, despite instructions to crew members to close the doors while on the move.
Two days after four students travelling on the footboard of an MTC bus were crushed to death in an accident on the OMR here, authorities directed crew members to keep automatic doors in buses with the facility closed. However, only a few drivers and conductors complied with the order, while the rest plied with open doors, putting lives of passengers at risk.
A reality check on three different routes revealed that several drivers were least bothered to close the doors from their time of departure from the terminus. For instance, a 49A (T Nagar - Poonamallee) bus, that left the T Nagar bus terminus, continued to run with doors open even after passing through a stop on Venkatnarayana Road.
Another semi-low floor bus plying between Anna Square and Perambur (29A) was also seen running with open doors.
Ironically, automatic doors had been removed from another bus (Fleet number IYI0654, Registration Number TN 01 N-4732), plying on the Broadway-Iyyapanthangal route (11H).
When queried, the driver feigned ignorance about the reason. “The doors may not be functioning,” he replied.
Automatic doors are a key safety feature in buses as they prevent footboard travel, apart from ensuring that travellers alight and board only at bus stops.
However, a conductor on Avadi route alleged that passengers were behind the footboard menace. “People want to get down at their convenience, particularly at traffic signals. Closed doors hinder them from doing so,” he said.
Besides, non-functional automatic doors are a problem, he added.
When contacted, a senior MTC official said that a study had been undertaken to enumerate the number of buses with faulty doors. “Moreover, we have deployed staff at various points to check why doors are not closed. Action has been taken against two drivers for not closing the door, though it was in working condition,” he added.
The MTC operates 1,114 deluxe services.