Blue Line buses to be phased out in Delhi

By IANS

New Delhi : Two days after a speeding private Blue Line bus rammed into several vehicles at a traffic intersection killing a boy and injuring seven others, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Tuesday said the buses would be phased out in the capital.


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"We are planning to phase out Blue Line buses from the capital," Dikshit told reporters.

She said her government was getting ready to increase the number of high-capacity low-floor buses, which are running only on two routes. There are over 3,000 Blue Line buses in the capital.

Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf Tuesday visited the family of 13-year-old Morick, who was crushed under a Blue Line on Sunday, and assured them that strong action would be taken against the driver of the bus.

Morick was riding pillion on his father's scooter along with his brother in Rajouri Garden when the bus rammed the vehicle from behind, throwing him off. He was crushed under the bus wheels. His father and brother sustained minor injuries. He was a Class 5 student of S.M. Jain Montessori School in north Delhi.

"We have some plan in mind for private bus operators and action will be taken at an appropriate time. We want to assure you that the culprits will be punished," Yusuf said.

"We will take strong action against careless drivers and bus owners. Overspeeding buses can also be impounded," he added.

Delhi has over 4.7 million registered vehicles – more than in Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai put together. An average of four people die everyday in the national capital due to road accidents.

Jaswinder Singh, the Blue Line bus driver, was arrested Monday.

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