From Tuesday, @myBESTBus introduced the first AC double decker e-bus in public service, but the bus manufactured by @SwitchMobility has some serious issues related to passengers' safety and comfort, which should have been addressed before launching it.
Most serious issue is "common" space for the passenger using the front side staircase and the seat next to it. To make the things worse, a grab given from the last staircase, which hit the passengers leg while alighting down.
Second big issue is headroom while ascending down. Passengers above 5.5 feet height could bang their heads, while descending if they wouldn't bend. Also, the cushion provided is not enough.
Passengers sitting on the seats above the rear tyre also bang their heads and have the same issue faced by the passengers sitting on window seats on the upper deck. Lower deck height is good, but a person above 5.10 feet has to bend while on the upper deck.
Seat alignment is another service issue in the new ebus. The seats are forward slipping and this is probably done to fit the maximum seat by lowering their angle a bit on the down side. But because of this passengers slip downwards while sitting and in case of hard braking.
Vertical handles on the lower deck of the bus are not properly positioned. When proving obstruction, when passengers sitting on the aisle seat slide their legs out to allow the window seat passengers to go in or out.
Handles provided on the front and rear side staircase are also not properly positioned. They are given at leg level instead of hand level and also not continuous. Therefore, passengers find it difficult while using a staircase.
Double decker bus body code (AIS-139) has confusion points about emergency exits. (Read 4.2.1 & 4.2.2). Sadly on the upper deck no word is mentioned about the emergency exit, which is most serious especially, when we have witnessed a serious fire incident of e-vehicles recently.
As new buses have a codal life of 15 years, the passengers are going to suffer for such a long period. But, what is more serious is how the country's premium testing agency #ARAI ignored this, though people can't expect such things from RTOs where agents can get anything done.
Lakhs of Mumbaikars are going to suffer daily if these issues are not addressed immediately. Please look into these issues @IqbalSinghChah2 @mieknathshinde @Dev_Fadnavis @nitin_gadkari @bhimanwar @AUThackeray @ravirajaINC
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