Nandurbar, January 10: Maharashtra’s State Transport (ST) drivers, responsible for ferrying thousands of passengers daily across hundreds of kilometers, are demanding urgent attention to their mental well-being. Persistent stress among drivers has increased the risk of road accidents, highlighting the need for professional counseling services.
Nandurbar district alone operates over 500 ST buses daily from its depots in Nandurbar, Navapur, Shahada, and Akkalkuwa. Despite clear directives from the ST Corporation to appoint counselors in every division, no professional counselors have been deployed locally, leaving depot managers to address drivers’ mental health concerns.
Drivers regularly report stretch due to long hours, monetary challenges, and working environment weights. Specialists caution that driving beneath such conditions postures a genuine danger to street security. “Operating a transport with the burden of push is associated to welcoming accidents,” said a senior official.
Two decades ago, a directive from the then Transport Minister mandated the appointment of counselors across all divisions. However, no appointments have been made in Nandurbar district’s four depots. This gap has led to repeated calls for immediate action to ensure drivers remain stress-free and focused on the road.
Counseling sessions tending to compulsion, budgetary thrust, and mental prosperity are essential to dodging incidents. “Driving underneath the affect or eager constraint is enormously unsafe. Counseling a few time as of late taking the wheel can save lives,” included the official.
With over 500 lives at stake on each journey, stakeholders urge the ST Corporation to prioritize the deployment of professional counselors to safeguard passengers and drivers alike.