PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Dehradun Mahanagar City Bus Service Society has submitted a memorandum to the transport commissioner and the senior superintendent of police on Thursday, calling for an effective investigation into the alleged use of drugs by drivers of commercial vehicles in Dehradun.
According to the union’s president, Vijay Vradhan Dandriyal, there are numerous complaints that many drivers and conductors of commercial vehicles operating in Dehradun—such as e-rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, Vikrams, Tata Magics, buses and other public transport—are driving under the influence of various intoxicants, including Sulpha and other narcotic capsules. This poses a serious concern for the safety of passengers and the general public, he noted.
Dandriyal pointed out that under the current system, police and Transport departments primarily check for alcohol use. “Drivers consuming other drugs are often not identified during routine checks, allowing them to evade penalties. Taking the matter seriously, we have submitted a memorandum addressing this critical issue to the transport commissioner and SSP in Dehradun,” he said.
The memorandum demands that special measures be implemented to investigate drug abuse, forcing suspected drivers and conductors to undergo blood tests or other scientific examinations. It also requests that the relevant department cover the costs of these investigations from its budget and that strict legal action be taken against individuals found guilty of drug abuse, in accordance with the law.
Dandriyal emphasised that to reduce road accidents, it is essential to conduct regular and scientific testing for both alcohol and other intoxicants.
