Kolkata: The West Bengal State Transport Department has issued nine-point fire and operational guidelines to track bus safety across the state.
All state transport undertakings will have to set up passenger safety and security cells to track safety-related incidents.
They will also assess risks and recommend corrective actions for vehicles.
The district road safety committees will exercise similar vigilance on private buses.
The guidelines include strict adherence to vehicle maintenance protocol, timely fitness certification and focused scrutiny of buses fitted with electronic control units that are vulnerable to fire hazards.
The Transport Secretary Saumitra Mohan issued these guidelines following a spate of fire accidents on public transport.
There will be particular emphasis on new BS-IV and BS-VI-compliant buses, which have a complex electronic control system.
Therefore, they require stricter inspection and monitoring due to heightened short-circuit risks.
The guidelines call for an SoP for fires, accidents and other emergencies, to be prepared in coordination with tech experts, OEMs and emergency services.
Capacity building of drivers, conductors and technical staff forms another key norm.
The guidelines were issued after extensive discussions with STUs, private bus operators, enforcement agencies and OEMs. The discussions centred on preparedness, risk mitigation and systematic safety improvements.
Operators should engage qualified technical personnel and crew members who are trained in fire prevention and responses.
The state transport undertakings are also advised to replace ageing fleets and ensure new buses are equipped with fire control systems.
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