The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is cracking down on distracted driving! They’ve just released a stern circular, putting all drivers on notice: using mobile phones or any other digital devices while driving a BMTC bus will now lead to severe disciplinary actions. These consequences include immediate suspension, significant salary deductions, mandatory transfers, and even the withholding of annual increments.
This critical decision follows a worrying trend of recent accidents involving BMTC buses, which have tragically resulted in fatalities and severely damaged the corporation’s public image. Investigations into these incidents frequently pinpointed driver distraction, often linked to mobile phones or other digital gadgets, as a primary cause. This prompted the management to implement these much stricter rules.
The new circular leaves no room for ambiguity: any driver caught using a mobile phone, Bluetooth device, earphones, or similar gadgets—be it for making calls, listening to music, or chatting—will immediately incur a “red mark (ORMC)” on their record under the established disciplinary regulations. For both first-time and second-time offenders (this applies to both permanent drivers and those on probation), the penalties are substantial: a 15-day suspension from duty, an immediate transfer to another division, and a hefty ₹5,000 deduction from their salary. Additionally, probationers will forfeit one year’s increment.
For trainee drivers, the stakes are equally high. A first offense will result in removal from duty for 15 days, a full disciplinary inquiry, and a ₹2,500 salary deduction. A second offense doubles the financial penalty to ₹5,000.
These penalties aren’t static; they increase dramatically with each repeat violation. A third offense brings even harsher repercussions, including the withholding of increments for up to two years and deductions reaching up to ₹20,000 from their salary. For the most persistent offenders, particularly from the fifth offense onward, trainee drivers face the ultimate consequence: permanent removal from the trainee selection list. Established employees at this stage could see deductions soar to ₹30,000, compounded by the loss of further increments.
A BMTC official emphasized that “these stringent penalties are absolutely vital for ensuring public safety and safeguarding the corporation’s reputation.” They also clarified that BMTC retains the right to implement further disciplinary actions as deemed necessary under its comprehensive Conduct and Discipline Rules of 1971.