Buses defy court order, risking passenger safety with open-door operations

A city bus running service without closing the pneumatic doors in Kozhikode on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: K. RAGESH

Despite a Kerala High Court directive requiring all buses to keep their doors closed while in motion, many private bus operators in Kozhikode district continue to flout the rule by not installing and maintaining pneumatic doors properly that guarantee the safety of passengers. Enforcement efforts by the Department of Motor Vehicles (MVD) and the police road safety team have had little effect as many operators appear indifferent to commuters’ safety concerns.

Several buses that had previously installed pneumatic doors are now facing problems with malfunctioning systems, making boarding and alighting dangerous for passengers. Drivers also struggle with these faulty doors, especially during rush hour traffic when passengers often try to get on their feet.

“For proper operation, the pneumatic doors will have to be checked periodically. It never happens on most buses as the operators consider it an unwanted expense. For many, these gates are just for show to appease the control teams,” says a retired MVD officer who was formerly part of roadside inspections. He notes that passengers are also unhappy with the unprofessional operation and dangerous out of doors

Recent accidents, in which passengers suffered serious injuries after being thrown from doorless buses during sudden stops or high-speed travel, have not led to any significant change in the way these buses operate on the risky routes of the city Mostly, the elderly and students are the victims of this negligence. Additionally, isolated incidents of passengers being pinched by malfunctioning doors have prompted some operators to return buses to open-door operations.

“Many bus operators are now hesitant to employ full-time gate attendants due to declining business income. For many, pneumatic gates are seen as obstacles that disrupt the free movement of passengers in the middle of the tight daily service schedule,” says a driver from Vadakara who used to work on the Kozhikode-Kannur route. He also notes that the option to open pneumatic doors for passengers is not available on many buses, doubling the safety concerns.

Meanwhile, MVD officers and road safety teams are stepping up efforts, carrying out quick inspections on both urban and rural routes to crack down on “open-door trips” and other safety violations. A week-long special enforcement drive backed by various enforcement teams is also being considered following growing complaints against bus operators, they added.