COMMONWEALTH GAMES: DELHI BUS DRIVERS LEARN ROAD MANNERS

BY P.VIJIAN

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- Hundreds of public bus drivers in the Indian
capital are undergoing an image make-over, to ensure they are more courteous on
the roads, ahead of the Commonwealth Games next year.

As part of the campaign to shape up bus drivers, many reckless and with
rustic behaviour, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) had started a 60-day
programme for its employees.

About 1,500 drivers and conductors will undergo a course in basic English
and road etiquette in preparation to welcome thousands of foreign visitors,
expected to throng the city during the Games in October next year.

"DTC will impart internal training modules on soft skills, basic English
language and skill sensitisation to drivers and conductors.

"The training module will be useful for drivers and conductors to adopt
better manners so that sportspersons and participating officers during the
Commonwealth Games feel more comfortable," Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder
Singh Lovely said after launching the programme.

About 9,000 road accidents are recoded in Delhi every year and nearly 2,000
people are killed in road mishaps annually, largely due to careless driving.

According to the Delhi-based Centre of Science and Envrionement's recent
report, Delhi tops in road accidents compared to other Indian cities like
Chennai or Kolkata, with numbers almost double in the national capital.

The overcrowded city with nearly 12 million people has about 6 million
vehicles choking the narrow crowded roads.

--BERNAMA