BMTC warns drivers of strict penalties for mobile phone use while driving

Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has issued a circular informing its drivers against the usage of mobile phones and different integer devices portion driving, stating that specified violations volition invitation strict disciplinary action, including suspension, wage deductions, transfers, and withholding of increments.

The determination comes successful the aftermath of a bid of caller accidents involving BMTC buses that person led to nonaccomplishment of lives and tarnished the corporation’s reputation. According to officials, investigations revealed that successful respective cases drivers were distracted by mobile phones oregon integer gadgets, prompting the absorption to present stringent measures.

The circular makes it wide that the usage of mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, earphones, oregon akin gadgets portion driving, whether for calls, music, oregon chatting, volition beryllium treated arsenic a “red people (ORMC)” lawsuit nether disciplinary rules. For the archetypal and 2nd offences, imperishable drivers and probationers volition look a 15-day suspension, transportation wrong the division, and a ₹5,000 wage deduction. Probationers volition suffer an increment for 1 year.

Trainee drivers volition look removal from work for 15 days, disciplinary inquiry, and a deduction of ₹2,500 for the archetypal offence and ₹5,000 for the second, the circular stated.

The punishments escalate sharply for repetition violations. By the 3rd offence, penalties see withholding increments for up to 2 years and deductions of up to ₹20,000 from salary. From the 5th offence onwards, trainee drivers hazard imperishable removal from the trainee enactment list, portion employees could look deductions arsenic precocious arsenic ₹30,000 on with nonaccomplishment of increments.

“These penalties are successful the involvement of nationalist information and to support the corporation’s image. It besides reserved the close to enforce further punishments nether its Conduct and Discipline Rules, 1971,” BMTC authoritative said.