PUNE: Many students and citizens go to their native place for Diwali. Hence, private buses are overcrowded apart from buses of MSRTC. Taking advantage of this situation, the owners of private buses have started looting passengers. Bus operators have doubled the fares during Diwali. However, the private bus operators’ association has pointed a finger at the RTO.
Every day, more than 500 buses operate to various destinations in Maharashtra. Apart from this, 500 buses operated from Mumbai pass via Pune. Most of the passengers travel to Marathwada and Vidarbha. Many people travel to their village during Diwali. Hence, bus operators increase the fare of buses and now, fares have been more than doubled. Hence, passengers are suffering and forced to pay a huge amount.
Private bus operators can charge one and a half times the fare charged per km by MSRTC. The state government has fixed the maximum fare on April 27, 2018. Many complaints are being received that some operators are charging exorbitant fares. However, the RTO and traffic police are not taking action against these operators.
Pune District Luxury Bus Association had sent a letter to RTO on October 17.
The association has not received a reply from RTO. The letter states that the RTO should fix the bus fares and it is charging one and a half times the fare charged by MSRTC. These extra fares are applicable only during eight days of Diwali. If the RTO fixes fares, then, it will charge accordingly. The RTO should take action against erring bus operators.
