ASCI calls for phasing out sleeper buses in AP

Vijayawada: Sleeper buses may soon become a thing of the past if the state govt implements the recommendations of the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), which call for the phased scrapping of existing sleeper buses and an end to the manufacturing and modification of bus bodies into sleeper buses in the state.ASCI, which was entrusted to carry out a detailed probe on the operation of sleeper buses and safety measures to be followed in sleeper buses following the tragic Kurnool bus tragedy, has submitted its report to the govt days after the Markapuram bus tragedy, which killed 13 passengers.In its report to the govt, the ASCI recommended a slew of measures to curb the bus accidents involving sleeper buses, which included the issuance of a joint circular by both central and state govts on the ban of sleeper buses after holding discussions with bus manufacturers in a time-bound manner, prevent bus manufacturers from producing sleeper buses, set deadlines for bus operators to convert existing sleeper buses as seater buses, automated testing of all private buses followed by a complete removal of sleeper buses from operation in the next 22 months.It may be noted here that, following the Kurnool bus tragedy, the AP transport department has written to the ministry of road transport and highways of India, seeking that it not grant contract carriage under the All India Tourist Permit (AITP) system."Passengers' safety is paramount for the govt. We are actively considering the proposal to ban the sleeper buses and also holding consultations with the Centre in this regard," AP transport minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy stated recently over the spree of bus mishaps involving sleeper buses in the recent past in the state.