Don’t turn off engine at traffic signals: Bengaluru transport body tells bus drivers amid fire incidents

Amid rising incidents of vehicles catching fire, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has asked its drivers not to turn off their engines at traffic signals. The order comes as a temporary solution after the first investigation report by the BMTC.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has directed all its Ashok Leyland midi bus drivers not to switch off the engine at traffic signals. This order came after an initial investigation into the cases of buses catching fire, which revealed that the fires originated in the engine.

Over the past three months, there have been three incidents where these BMTC buses caught fire. Even though no one was injured in all incidents, a separate committee was formed to investigate the matter.

Anbhu Kumar, the Managing Director of BMTC, said, “We have advised the drivers not to switch off and restart the engine at every traffic signal to avoid an electrical shock circuit. Earlier, the engine was switched off to save diesel. Now, we have instructed the drivers to start the bus during the commencement of the trip in bus depots and to only turn it off at the end of the trip.”

Addressing the findings of the initial investigation that revealed that the fires would start in the engine, he explained, “The electrical line and diesel line of these buses are next to each other. If there is a case of a diesel leakage, it will lead to a fire.”The order to not turn off engines has been made only as a temporary solution until the full investigation is completed. Ashok Leyland has also been asked to examine all their buses under BMTC.

BMTC procured 186 buses from Ashok Leyland in 2014 that were termed as midi buses, being nine meters long and comprising 33 seats, used in the congested areas of the city.

READ MORE| Govt ropes in IISc Bangalore to expand probe into electric scooter fire mishaps