New Delhi, July 16: A major debate is currently going on between Delhi Police and the Transport Department of Delhi government over the question: whether to remove speed governors from low-floor DTC buses, which could become sitting targets for terrorists during the October Commonwealth Games., reports Times of India.
Delhi Police says that either the speed governors be removed from low floor buses which will be carrying athletes, or the slow-moving low-floor buses are removed from roads, to prevent a Lahore-type attack on Sri Lankan cricketers.
Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said on Friday, DTC was ready to remove speed governors if the Supreme Court allowed so. The Supreme Court had, some years ago, ordered speed governors be put in Delhi buses to stop erring drivers from driving recklessly.
In the Lahore terrorist attack, on March 3, 2009, at least six Sri Lankan cricketers were injured when terrorists fired on their bus. The brave bus driver speedily drove the bus away to safety to prevent loss of lives.
Foreign and Indian intelligence agencies have been apprehending that terrorists may replicate the Lahore attack during the Commonwealth Games. Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal has told Delhi government and the Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee to either get the speed governors from low floor buses removed, or not use these buses at all.
In a confidential letter, says the report, Dadwal has suggested that dark films be put on the windows of buses carrying athletes to prevent any terror attack. DTC, the report says, is expected to petition the Supreme Court seeking removal of speed governors from low-floor buses carrying Games athletes. Supreme Court had fixed 40 km/hr as upper speed limit for these buses.
Delhi Police in its letter has described these low-floor buses as “soft underbelly” and “security nightmare”. “The entire transportation system is vulnerable despite meticulous security arrangements”, says Delhi Police.
Delhi Police had suggested bringing in a fleet of fast-moving Volvo vehicles to transport the athletes, instead of the low-floor DTC buses, but this move was shot down because Volvo buses run on diesel, whereas DTC low-floor buses run on CNG. Diesel buses are not allowed to be run on Delhi roads, as per the Supreme Court order.
——–Agencies