KSRTC buses running without insurance; good amount spent on court procedures including appeals to not pay accident compensations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC, which has more than 1,500 buses, including Swift, has insurance for only 1,900 buses. 4,000-4,500 buses operate daily. Out of these, 444 are Swift buses and they are insured.

The management has not ensured insurance for all buses, citing the fact that it will have to pay a huge amount as premium. The legal protection it receives as a government institution also helped KSRTC. If uninsured vehicles cause accidents and passengers lose their lives or are injured, the corporation must pay the compensation awarded by the court. In that case, KSRTC will approach the higher courts against the verdict. A good amount of money is spent annually, including on the case.

Will be released even if there is an accident

The KSRTC and the State Motor Vehicles Department state that KSRTC has protection under Section 146(3)C of the Motor Vehicles Act. MVD officials say that the exemption is given taking into account the consideration of being a government-owned vehicle and fleet ownership.

The police do not release other vehicles without insurance if they get into an accident, but KSRTC buses will be released.

Imprisonment and fine for other vehicles

Driving a vehicle without insurance is a violation of the law as per sections 146 and 196 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and KMVR 391A. This is an offence punishable with imprisonment for three months or a fine of Rs 2000. If the vehicle involved in the accident does not have insurance, the SHO of the respective police station should be informed and the charge for that offence should be included in the charge sheet, Transport Commissioner H Nagaraju had directed.