An AMTS driver has been removed from service after allegedly driving a route 143 shuttle bus while intoxicated and causing an accident near the Jamalpur steps in Ahmedabad. No fatalities were reported, but the incident put passengers and other road users at risk, according to a report by Nav Gujarat Samay – Ahmedabad.
An AMTS official confirmed that driver Suresh Rajput was under the influence of alcohol while operating the bus. The official said Rajput was removed from service with immediate effect after the incident. AMTS has also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the agency responsible for operating the bus.
The incident occurred near the Jamalpur steps while the bus was running on route 143. The supplied report does not provide details of the collision, the number of passengers on board or whether other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. It states that the accident did not result in any loss of life.
The action has renewed questions about the checks conducted before drivers of city buses are allowed to begin their routes. Ahmedabad city residents and public transport users depend on AMTS services across busy roads and densely populated areas, making driver fitness and operational supervision central to passenger safety.
Atik Saiyad, spokesperson of the Ahmedabad City Congress, has called for mandatory breathalyser tests for drivers at every AMTS depot before buses leave for their routes. He said buses should be permitted to operate only after the driver’s alcohol screening has been completed. Saiyad has also sought legal action against the driver and his permanent removal from service.
The AMTS official’s confirmation and the disciplinary action address the immediate incident, but the report does not state whether the transport agency currently conducts routine breathalyser checks, how often such checks are recorded or whether any additional monitoring system is being introduced following the case. It also does not specify whether police or other authorities have registered a separate legal case.
The Jamalpur incident follows other recent concerns involving AMTS operations. In July, an AMTS bus collided with a divider near Ellisbridge. The driver was suspected to have been intoxicated at the time, and an investigation was initiated, according to the report. In September, an altercation over overtaking between AMTS and BRTS drivers near Iskcon crossroads disrupted bus services and caused inconvenience to passengers.
These incidents involve different circumstances, and the supplied report does not establish a common cause. Together, however, they have placed renewed attention on driver conduct, enforcement and the responsibility of agencies operating public buses in Ahmedabad. The immediate confirmed action in the Jamalpur case is the driver’s removal and the ₹50,000 penalty imposed on the operating agency. Further details on any legal proceedings or depot-level screening measures have not been announced in the supplied report.
