TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Under heavy fire in the Goa Assembly in the wake of the bus tragedy at Khed, Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has stated that all private bus operators plying on inter-State routes will have to submit a list of passengers on board along with contact details at all check posts while departing from the State as an immediate measure.
Other steps to check illegalities and violations would be looked into immediately.
Dhavalikar on Tuesday admitted that there were violations from improper maintenance of passenger data to manipulation in travel plans and drunken driving that bus inter-State bus operators having All India permits were a law unto themselves and virtually conceded that the transport ministry was helpless, when being grilled in the House Tuesday. He quickly admitted the need for immediate steps to put things on the right track.
Dhavalikar was replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved in the House over the bus tragedy that took place at Khed in the early hours of the morning. Dhavalikar said that the ill-fated vehicle had an All India permit bearing a Maharashtra registration number and 41 passengers on board.
He said that the government is giving all the necessary help to the injured and support and assistance to those families who have lost their kin in the fatal accident.
The Calling Attention Motion was raised by Sanquelim MLA, Pramod Sawant who urged the transport ministry to take a serious look at negligence on the part of transport operators.
“They manipulate travel plans to avoid payment of tax,” said Sawant regretting that this has resulted in the tragedy at Khed Tuesday morning.
The chief minister also said that teams from the transport department and Goa police have rushed to the site and the Goa administration is in touch with Maharashtra for information and assistance.
Parrikar informed the House at around 1 pm that six Goans were rescued and rushed to the hospital, while identification of bodies were still on.
