The delegation comprising Prashant Inamdar and Shashikant Mehendale impressed upon the transport undertaking chief the need to have bottom side guards fixed on all buses to minimise the incidence of fatal mishaps that are on the rise in the city.It has been observed, Inamdar told Pune Newsline, that cyclists and two-wheeler riders come under the rear wheel of a bus and are invariably killed if not wearing a helmet. It is, therefore, mandatory under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules for city buses to have bottom side guards to prevent any passerby falling under the body of the bus and then getting run over by the rear wheel.

Inamdar said the response of the PMT chief was prompt and positive. He issued immediate instructions that all new buses that the PMT would be ordering would have the bottom side guards at the body building stage itself. Besides, all existing buses would be fitted with these side guards in phases, especially when they are sent to the Regional Transport Authority for periodic checks. While congratulating Lolge for the prompt assurance, Inamdar said the ECF would now be approaching the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Transport (PCMT) as well, with a similar request.

He said in fact, the rule should apply to all heavy vehicles apart from city buses, since it has been observed that several mishaps have been taking place even on highways with two wheeler riders coming under rear wheels of state transport buses and motor lorries.