RTA Directed to Increase Time Gap Between Private Buses

Quick Summary:

• Kerala high Court Directive: The Kerala High Court has instructed the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to take steps to prevent reckless driving by private buses in Kochi, including increasing the time gap between buses operating on the same routes.
• Proposed Time Gap Increase: the Transport department is considering increasing bus intervals on urban routes to a minimum of five minutes adn rural routes to ten minutes to reduce competition and accidents.
• Delayed RTA Meeting: The court noted frustration over RTA not convening a meeting after being mandated on August 8. A meeting is now scheduled for September 29, according to the government pleader.
• Traffic Police Deployment Suggestion: Traffic police personnel may be stationed at major junctions like Banerjee Road-Palarivattom and Pallimukku-Vyttila instead of relying solely on signal lights.The amicus curiae recommended using walkie-talkies for smoother traffic management.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The Kerala High court’s proactive stance highlights an urgent need for addressing reckless driving by private buses in Kochi, wich poses risks not only to safety but also contributes significantly to urban traffic congestion. Increasing time gaps between buses appears as a reasonable mitigation measure that could curb competitive behavior leading to accidents. However,delayed implementation from RTA reflects potential administrative bottlenecks that might undermine such efforts.

Deploying traffic personnel strategically at busy junctions alongside technological tools like walkie-talkies indicates an emphasis on real-time adjustments over automated systems like signal lights, suggesting practicality given current challenges in Kochi’s road infrastructure. Moving forward, aligning institutional coordination among transport authorities and law enforcement will be critical in ensuring effective results for safer roads and streamlined traffic flow.

Read more: – August 29, 2025 01:47 am IST