MTC crew suspended for cutting short mandated trip to Poonamallee

According to an official statement, driver S Bhovasmullar (43) and conductor Rajkumar (45) are attached to the Avadi depot and operating along bus route number 62 (Poonamallee-Red Hills). The service comprises of 24 stage stops, and the crew are tasked to complete a total of nine trips in the route within 16 hours every day. However, on January 23, they abruptly cut short their trip at Pudur.

The MTC crew, however, contend that the [Avadi depot] junior engineer (JE), Balaji, had instructed them to cut short the service at Ambattur that day.

The suspended driver, Bhovasmullar, said, “On the day of the incident, vehicular traffic was heavy owing to civic works being carried out at Surapet near Puzhal. Therefore, all the buses that plied along that route were delayed by at least two hours. Owing to this, we were only operating the seventh trip around 10.45 pm. The usual closing time is around 11 pm.”

At this point, the driver, who had reached Poonamallee around the time, contacted the JE to clarify the day’s closing time.

“The JE directed us to cut short the service at Ambattur, before returning to Red Hills,” Bhovasmullar added.

While returning, a checking inspector intercepted the vehicle near Avadi and found from the trip-sheet that the vehicle was returning to the terminus without completing the mandated number of trips.

Subsequently, the duo was served with a memo and further directed them to appear before higher officials for an inquiry.

“The other buses plying the same route, however, reached the terminus on time. Based on this, the crew was suspended from service. However, an inquiry will be conducted before taking a decision on this matter,” a top official said.