2 weeks Ago By Joy Sengupta
1 2 3 Pune: A Shivneri bus driver was dismissed on Sunday after a social media post of him watching the IPL match on his cellphone on Saturday while driving from Dadar to Swargate went viral. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation's (MSRTC) Pune division took immediate action after the passenger who filmed the video also sent it to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik. Namdev Yadav, the errant bus driver with a private contractor hired by MSRTC, was filmed engrossed in watching the match live on his cellphone while driving from Dadar to Swargate.
On Sunday, Sarnaik dismissed the driver from service and fined the private contractor Rs 5,000. MSRTC's public relations officer Abhijit Bhosle said, "We have always stressed that the use of cellphones while driving is dangerous and should be avoided. The e-Shivneri bus driven by Yadav started from Dadar at 7pm and was to arrive in Swargate in Pune.
The bus belonged to the Swargate depot. When it was close to Lonavla, some passengers saw Yadav watching the IPL match while driving the bus. Some of them clicked his picture and sent to the CMO via social media, upon which the action was initiated.
" A message on CMO Maharashtra's X account said, "This driver was immediately suspended. FIR is in process. And more action is underway.
The concern was duly noted and directed to respective department officials, they verified it and did the due process for above immediate actions." Bhosle said, "According to the transport minister, Shivneri is a premier service of MSRTC and has the reputation of accident-free service. The driver endangered the lives of passengers with his act and strict action was needed.
His dismissal will act as a deterrent and boost the confidence of the commuters too." In his statement, Sarnaik said that there were frequent complaints by commuters against autorickshaw drivers and cabbies watching their cellphone while ferrying them. "There are complaints from passengers that many drivers, be it of autorickshaws and cabs, wear earphones and talk continuously while driving.
The transport department will soon formulate new regulations and impose restrictions on such drivers," the minister said. Passengers said the action against the bus driver was necessary. "It is not harsh at all.
How can any driver watch a match while driving on the expressway? It endangers the lives of passengers. Even in the city, one can see many driving two- and four-wheelers and communicating on their cellphones. Strict action is necessary," Pune resident Prakash Rajse, a Pune resident said.
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