Maratha protest: MSRTC bus services from Pune to Jalna disrupted

State transport (ST) buses (and cars) are being targeted and vandalised by angry mobs due to which hundreds of these buses have been cancelled as a precautionary measure

With protests erupting across Maharashtra in the wake of the Antarwali Sarati incident wherein the police resorted to lathi-charge after the residents of this village in Jalna district demanded reservation for the Maratha community, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus services have been severely disrupted for the last two days.

Passengers waiting for buses at Shivajinagar bus stand on Sunday. (Shankar Narayan/HT PHOTO)

State transport (ST) buses (and cars) are being targeted and vandalised by angry mobs due to which hundreds of these buses have been cancelled as a precautionary measure. ST buses going to Ahmednagar, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Jalna, Beed and Latur are stuck at ST depots in Pune, Satara, Kolhapur and other districts. With the MSRTC cancelling more than 600 buses from Pune to these places, passengers are being forced to travel by private tourist buses at higher fares.

“Many buses going to Marathwada from Pune have been stopped in view of the safety of passengers and MSRTC employees. Approximately 600 buses have been stopped today (Sunday). Since morning, not a single bus has left from Pune for Jalna, Dhule, Ahmednagar, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Latur and other parts. Daily, around 15,000 passengers travel on these routes from various ST depots in Pune district. However, these buses have been held back in Pune to prevent any untoward incident/s,” said Kailash Patil, divisional controller of MSRTC Pune.

After the lathi-charge at Antarwali Sarati village, 16 trains have been suspended. Trains passing through Pusad, Yavatmal, have been suspended and buses from Marathwada have been stopped from going to Yavatmal district, inconveniencing passengers no end.