Volvo India, which has a firm grip on the inter-state bus market, is up against a massive task set for it by the Karnataka government. The state has asked all bus operators to install emergency exits within a period of three months. About 1,000 buses out of the nation’s total of 5000 are based in Karnataka alone.
The directive follows two recent incidents in which Volvo buses caught fire leading to the death of 52 passengers on-board.
A spokesperson for Volvo India said that they have not yet decided the process of implementing the order. Volvo India has earlier said they will be fully compliant with government regulations. “All aspects are being examined (over the incident) and we cannot comment on how the process is being executed. We are working closely with the government as well as the relevant authorities. We have experts from our global headquarters down here to check various aspects,” Volvo India spokesperson added.
The state government mandate ordered all bus operators to install the emergency exits at a reasonable height on the side of the bus, failing which a penalty would be imposed and vehicles seized. The government added that Volvo buses will not be procured in future if the company does not fit the same with emergency exits at a reasonable height.
Read the full report here, Business Standard
