In a surprising turn of events in Ahmedabad, local residents spotted two AMTS electric buses operating under the same registration number along the same route. The incident occurred in the Meghani Nagar area, leaving passengers and onlookers bewildered.
This unusual situation has raised serious questions about the management of bus services in a city that prides itself on being a smart city. Typically, AMTS employs GPS tracking to monitor routes and schedules, yet it seems this system failed to prevent such an oversight.
One bus displayed a number plate bearing ‘HSRPI,’ while the other lacked any designation. This discrepancy suggests that there may have been tampering with the number plates involved.
Questions Arise Over Monitoring Systems
A local Congress spokesperson, Atik Syed, voiced concerns over how both buses could operate simultaneously without raising alarms through the control room’s monitoring systems. “If both buses’ GPS locations were reaching the control room, why wasn’t it flagged during monitoring?” he asked. He highlighted the need for clarity regarding whether there was a misunderstanding in duty schedules or if technical issues contributed to this mix-up.
Need for Review
This occurrence has sparked discussions about reviewing AMTS’s route management and scheduling processes. With complaints from passengers about long wait times elsewhere in the city, having two identical buses running is troubling. The irony isn’t lost on many that despite digital tracking systems designed for efficiency, such lapses can still happen.
According to an AMTS official, while both buses do have different RTO registration numbers, alterations were made to their number plates. Consequently, operators will face fines totaling ₹500,000 due to these discrepancies.