MUMBAI: BEST bus drivers and conductors can offload passengers who play loud music on their mobile phones or iPods, and even those who board the bus wearing headsets or have phones glued to their ears.

"Under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Regulations 1989-102, conductors can force people out of the bus if they find them disturbing co-passengers and hindering ticket collection or passenger announcements," the BEST statement said. The BEST appealed to citizens not to play loud songs on buses. "They should also not talk loudly on the phone," the statement said.

According to BEST officials it has been observed by the conductors and drivers that many passengers, mostly youths, aboard play songs loudly on their handsets or instruments such as MP3s and indulge in loud talking while being on phone.

"Many passengers talk on the phone while near the door, inconveniencing others who want to either get off or board the bus," said an official.

Shockingly, there are several passengers who board or disembark the bus while being talking on phone. "There are passengers who immediately make a call or play loud songs as soon as they take their seats. This creates hindrance and thus leads to delay in ticket collection for the conductors," the release saidpointed out asking passengers to be careful in using their handsets while commuting on BEST buses.

