In a shocking incident that has raised serious concerns over road safety and public transport discipline in Gujarat, an ST (State Transport) bus driver was caught driving on the wrong side of the busy Ring Road bridge in Surat for nearly three kilometers. The incident came to light after a video, recorded by a car driver traveling on the same route, went viral on social media, prompting the authorities to initiate a departmental inquiry. According to sources, the incident occurred two days ago during nighttime hours when traffic on the bridge was relatively lighter compared to the daytime rush. The car driver, who was driving from Surat Railway Station towards Udhna, was stunned to see a state transport bus approaching at a high speed of nearly 50 to 60 km/h from the wrong direction. Realizing the seriousness of the situation and the potential danger it posed to other commuters, he immediately began recording the video as evidence. The footage clearly shows the ST bus continuously moving on the wrong side from the station area all the way to Udhna, covering an approximate distance of three to four kilometers. The viral video also revealed the bus registration number as GJ 01 BZ 7384. Based on the partially visible route board, the bus is suspected to be operating between Baleshwar and Ramnagar, although officials are verifying the route details as part of their investigation. After the video spread widely, the matter reached the State Transport Department and the GSRTC (Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation). The officials immediately took cognizance of the violation and instructed the concerned division to identify the driver and initiate strict action. The ST divisional director, P. V. Gurjar, confirmed that an inquiry has begun and assured that suitable disciplinary steps will be taken based on the findings. The incident has renewed discussions around recurring negligence by bus drivers in Surat as well as other major cities in Gujarat. Over the past few years, several such videos have surfaced showing buses jumping red lights, overspeeding, overtaking dangerously, and even driving on the wrong side of the road — a practice that poses extreme risks, especially on high-traffic bridges like Ring Road. The Ring Road bridge is one of Surat’s busiest routes, witnessing thousands of vehicles every day. Driving a heavy vehicle such as an ST bus on the wrong side not only disrupts the traffic flow but also puts the lives of passengers, drivers, and pedestrians in grave danger. Experts highlight that such reckless behavior could easily lead to catastrophic accidents, particularly if it occurred during peak hours. Fortunately, the recent incident happened late at night, preventing any major mishap. Transportation safety advocates have pointed out that the slogan “Safe Journey, ST is Our Identity” (Salamat Sawari, ST Hamari Pehchaan) has become questionable due to increasing negligence among some drivers. They have urged the government to implement stricter monitoring systems, upgrade training programs for drivers, and enforce firm disciplinary measures for repeated offenders. GSRTC sources also mentioned that this viral video underscores the need for better road-sense training, psychological evaluation of drivers handling long routes, and installation of dashboard cameras inside buses to maintain accountability. Commuters, frequent travelers, and residents have also expressed anger and disappointment, demanding that GSRTC ensures passenger safety with zero tolerance toward irresponsible driving. The coming days will reveal what strict action will be taken against the driver responsible for this dangerous act and how the authorities plan to prevent such incidents in the future.
Surat ST Bus Caught Driving 3 KM on Wrong Side; Investigation Begins After Viral Video
