KOCHI: Though air-horns were banned by the High Court in 2005, most private buses making trips to the rural areas in the district still use them. The Police and the Motor Vehicles Department find it hard to track these vehicles as they lack the adequate equipment to measure the sound decibel of horns. According to the police officials, private buses can easily evade the eyes of authorities in rural areas as there is no regular monitoring here owing to the shortage of officials in the Motor Vehicles Department. “Long-route buses to high range areas and rural parts are the ones that mostly use air horns. These horns produce sound which is higher than the prescribed limit of 110 decibel. We have requested higher officials to provide the required equipment so that vehicles that flout norms can be netted,” said police officials.They added that most bus operators prefer air horns because they cost less than electric horns. Road Transport Officer T J Thomas says that the Department does conduct checks in this regard. “We conduct inspections at Vyttila Mobility Hub and action has been taken against vehicles that use multi-horns. When caught, a fine of `1,000 is imposed on the drivers. Decibel meter is not available with us right now, but we have requested for a decibel meter. Checking would be intensified in the coming days as complaints in this regard are on the rise. We have also received complaints against buses conducting service in Kochi city,” Thomas said.
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