Majlis committee to question MTCC officials over bus crash that killed 13-yo

Parliament’s committee on state owned enterprises has decided to question officials from the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), over the fatal accident that killed a 13-year-old girl.

The committee made the decision at a meeting held on Monday, to ensure that the company complies with the regulations.

The committee on state owned enterprises decided to summon MTCC officials after a requested from the human rights’ and gender committee, seeking to clarify the circumstances of the accident.

As such, the committee will question the officials on the set speed for the drivers and how their work is divided. The request also highlighted reports of drivers being overworked.

The committee on human rights and gender sought the state-owned enterprises’ committee as monitoring the work of state-owned enterprises falls under the latter’s mandate.

The 13-year-old was killed in the hit and run accident that took place on November 12 near the Hulhumalé bus terminal. The girl was in the passenger seat, while a 51-year-old woman was operating the vehicle; the older woman did not sustain any serious injuries, according to the police.

While the police are to have stopped and caught the driver shortly after, an MTCC official denied that he had fled the scene and added that the driver was unaware that an accident had taken place.

The 54-year-old bus driver was remanded for seven days, and was released on November 20.

Confirming his release to RaajjeMV, police said that there was no need to keep him in custody during the investigation.

Back in May, a Ukrainian tourist died after being run over by a bus; the driver had fallen asleep while operating the vehicle.

This led to concern over whether MTCC was overworking its drivers. However, MTCC maintains that it does not.

There have also been concern over the safety issues on MTCC buses, with numerous complaints regarding speeding and reckless driving.