Private buses plying on the roads in Tirunelveli city.
| Photo Credit: A. SHAIKMOHIDEEN
Even after an aged couple was crushed to death recently by a speeding private bus in Tirunelveli city, loading additonal passengers for more revenue and parking the vehicles on the highway and at unscheduled stops continue, turning the roads into death traps.While government bus drivers have a minimal respect for road safety rules due to fear of action by higher-ups on seeing their violations on social media, none have control over the drivers of private buses and mini buses plying here. They continue to unleash terror on the roads with their reckless speed and least respect for rules.When Collector Anand Mohan inspected the spot where the couple was crushed to death, he announced that the police would register cases against erring bus drivers, including government bus drivers, and vehicles causing accidents by violating road safety rules would be confiscated. However, the violations continue in Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai, posing a threat to the safety of road users, particularly bike riders.“The officials must visit Tirunelveli Junction bus stand, Vannarpet and Samathanapuram traffic island in the morning and evening everyday to understand the problems caused by drivers of mini buses and private buses, all fitted with banned air-horns,” says C. Balamurugan, an autorickshaw driver from Palayamkottai, who takes children to their schools.The violations by private bus drivers can be seen at places such as Tirunelveli Junction bus stand, Aravind Eye Hospital, Vannarpet, Mary Sargent Higher Secondary School, Palayamkottai Market, Samathanapuram traffic island, west LIC Divisional Office, where the drivers halt their vehicle on the highway in haphazard fashion for picking or dropping passengers.“Of this, there is no scheduled stop west of LIC Divisional Office as the passengers can take the bus at Palayamkottai bus-stand, which is just 100 meters away. But, the buses, particularly the private buses are stopped at this point to cause traffic congestion throughout the day,” a senior staff of LIC say.Transport officials have another story to tell. “At least three mini buses are often operated in Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai along unauthorised routes. Our officials turn a blind eye towards the violations for obvious reasons,” according to an official at the Regional Transport Office.Though the police claim that they are taking due action against bus drivers violating traffic rules, Palayamkottai and Tirunelveli Roads are not safe, the people feel.“The action taken by the police against traffic violations by any road user – right from bike rider to bus driver - should be stringent and visible on every busy road. Unfortunately, it cannot be seen anywhere in sustained fashion and, hence, the violations and accidents,” says P. Manikandan of Samathanapuram, who suffered a fracture in the right leg after a speeding bus hit his bike in 2017. Published - August 01, 2026 07:42 pm IST
