Vadodara: The growing obsession with social media reels has cost an electric bus driver in Vadodara his job after a video allegedly showing him recording content while driving went viral, prompting swift action by civic authorities.The now-deleted video allegedly showed the driver using his mobile phone while operating one of the recently launched air-conditioned electric buses, introduced under the Centre’s PM-eBus Sewa scheme. The clip quickly spread on social media, drawing criticism over distracted driving in public transport.Sources said the driver’s social media account contains several similar videos, indicating that filming content from behind the steering wheel may not have been an isolated incident. The act potentially endangered not only passengers travelling in the bus but also other commuters on the road.The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) issued a notice to JBM, the company that provides buses and drivers for the city’s electric bus service operated through Vadodara Green Mobility Vehicle Ltd, the special purpose vehicle formed by the civic body.Jatan Badheka, a VMC official, said the corporation treated the matter as a serious public safety concern.“We received information that the video had gone viral on social media and immediately issued a notice to the operator. JBM has terminated the driver and assured us that such incidents will not be repeated,” stated Badheka.He added that all drivers had undergone training before the commissioning of the electric buses and were instructed to strictly follow operational protocols, including a complete ban on using mobile phones while driving.
