Ahmedabad: A driver operating an Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) shuttle bus while under the influence of alcohol drove the vehicle into pedestrians near Jamalpur Pagathiya on Sunday, sparking widespread outrage over public transit safety and administrative oversight.The driver has been arrested by Traffic ‘E’ division under Section 281 of BNS and Sections 177 and 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act.Although no major injuries were reported, the accident on Route No. 143 highlighted critical gaps in driver screening.Local residents surrounded the bus immediately following the crash, apprehended the intoxicated driver and handed him over to officers at Gaekwad Haveli Police Station.Citizens and legal experts have called for swift legal and administrative action against both the driver and the transit authority.“An FIR must be immediately registered and legal action taken against the accused driver under BNS and the Motor Vehicles Act for drunk driving and endangering citizens’ lives,” said advocate Atik Sayyed, a resident of Jamalpur.“The AMTS administration should suspend the driver with immediate effect and permanently dismiss him from service. Furthermore, mandatory alcohol breathalyser tests should be implemented for drivers at all AMTS bus depots before buses are taken out on routes to prevent any recurrence of such incidents,” he added.In recent months, Ahmedabad has witnessed several incidents involving allegations of drunken driving by AMTS personnel, raising concerns about passenger and pedestrian safety. In July, AMTS terminated 13 drivers and BRTS sacked three drivers following a string of accidents and severe misconduct complaints.
