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Your Space: Government fails to check inflated bus fares
Private bus operators in the city have been openly flouting a Maharashtra state government directive that forbids them from charging more than 50 per cent above the state bus service ticket fares on a per kilometre basis.
The current scenario is not very good for the middle class citizens in the state as well as country. Air tickets are at an all time high and as usual there are no tickets available for trains. With both those doors firmly shut, citizens opt for private buses to travel only to eventually find that there is no difference here as well.
I am a resident of Akola. I have come to the city to pursue my higher studies. However, whenever I need to go home, more than happiness, I am overcome by the expense I will have to bear to reach my home. There are no flights and trains are always sold out. We are forced to use buses and bus ticket prices are exorbitantly high. Nevertheless, we have to buy those tickets.
I have to spend ₹2,500 per tickets to reach Akola during Diwali where as I should not be spending more than ₹800 per ticket. This is nothing but loot which is allowed by the government. This issue should be a topic of concern for the government. However, they have trivialised the issue as if it does not even exist. This is wrong and the government must regularise all these transactions and keep the bus operators under their watch.
- Rohit Rathod
A risky bait if caught in bureaucracy
The Fadnavis government has already issued orders that private bus operators should not charge more than the state buses. But the problem is of implementation. Like most policies stuck in the wheel of bureaucracy, only god knows when this will actually be implemented.
Till then, the bus operators will continue to have a field day and extort as much as they want. We have seen many resolutions simply gathering dust in the past. What is the guarantee that this won’t suffer the same fate? And let’s assume that they actually do implement their orders, but still the timing is all wrong. The peak season of fare hike will long be over. If that is the case, which passenger will it help in the long run?
- Pravin Pande
Be vigilant and don’t pay more
Right to move freely anywhere in India always came with a high cost when there was no control over the ticket prices of privately operating buses. There was a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the non-governmental organisation (NGO), Sahyog, where the Bombay high court in 2015 asked the government to work out on the maximum price that privately operating bus owners can charge.
This order was passed very recently. Now, depending on the type of bus, private bus owners can only charge 50 per cent more than the price charged in a similar bus run by a public bus service. There is a ceiling on the maximum price that they can charge. Many people are not aware of this notification. The private bus owners who charge more can now be reported to the transport department and their licence can be cancelled. It is important that every citizen using a private bus service is vigilant to ensure they do not pay more, especially during vacations.
-Rama Sarode
Not a government for the people
Apparently, the incumbent government in the state has made a habit of being insensitive towards the predicaments of the people. The issue of extremely high bus prices during the holiday season is not often spoken about, but it is a problem which is faced by every individual who cannot afford the luxury of airways and does not have a source to ensure confirmed train tickets through the very important person (VIP) quota.
Not keeping a watch and paying the inflated rates charged by private bus operators is in a way, explicitly allowing corruption. The Devendra Fadnavis government, which speaks of being committed towards working for the people, has failed in this context. My native place is Risod, a small village in Wasim district. If I have to pay ₹2,000 per ticket to go to my home, I am being looted and the government is responsible for this.
If I am being looted under the watch of the government, it is due its incompetency to act against powerful bus owners and operators. The government must act against the private bus operators.
- Shripad Patki
Suggestions to consider
At a time when the state is ready for Metro rails and a bullet train, there is a section of people who are struggling to come by affordable travel options. People who travel to cities like Nagpur, Amravati or Akola have been suffering as a result of the unreasonable price of tickets charged by private bus agencies during the holiday season.
The otherwise off season ticket, which costs between ₹800 to ₹1,200, is sold at twice or thrice its price during the peak seasons of Diwali and summer vacations by private bus operators. The reason for these inflated charges still remains ambiguous. I have been in Pune for the last four years now and there have been multiple instances where I had to travel to Nagpur. Every year I pay around ₹3,000 to ₹3,500 for a one-way ticket during Diwali. Every time I pay that extra ₹2,000, I feel irritated and cheated.
There are many more passengers like me who have been undergoing the same plight for years and there is nowhere to go and complain about the foul play. There is no regulatory body to supervise this practice which is nothing but daylight robbery in the garb of tax and fuel prices.
Moreover, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses are not comfortable enough to opt for a long 13 hour to 14 hour journey. Not everyone can afford a flight ticket and the trains that connect the cities that I had earlier mentioned are almost completely booked throughout the year. In the light of this reality, the only option that we are left with is paying the inflated ticket prices of private buses.
These are a few of my suggestions for the government to improve the situation, if it is really willing to keep a check on the issue and improve the connectivity of the city to other cities:
1. To execute strict regulations on private buses ticket fares to keep them under check.
2. To introduce comfortable sleeper buses like ‘Shivneri’ for passengers on these routes.
3. To increase the frequency and number of trains connecting Pune with other cities.
Also, it is the need of the hour for citizens to raise a voice against this malpractice and make sure the issue is heard by the government and that they find a permanent solution to it.
- Aarti Kashyap
Fix some slabs for occasions
Such illegal rate hike is a way to extort money from travellers during festive seasons and vacations. Private bus operators increase their ticket fares by around 100 per cent to 150 per cent. Moreover, there is no seating capacity and the overloaded vehicles can lead to horrible accidents.
There must be a governing body to check such illegal businesses practices which is prevalent in every city in the state. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) should fix some ticket fare slabs for festive occasions to prevent exploitation, failing which they should suspend their licences
The state reserve transport corporation, and Railways should increase the frequency of their services during the festive season and also advertise it to in order to ensure that commuters are aware about any changes.
It is the responsibility of the government to limit such arbitrary hikes and the government should take strict action against private bus owners which forces the common man to dole out exorbitant amounts of money as ticket fares. If the state transport services promote and extensively plan more trips, commuters will naturally prefer these services. The state transport system should be prepared a month in advance to cope up with increased demand during the festive seasons.
Safety and security of the commuter is also essential, along with reasonable ticket fares.
- Chetan Nalavade
Masses need better services
Privatisation has increased business in recent times, they do make good profits so it’s not really necessary. Allowing increase in price will affect the common man after all as they won’t be able to afford it. And if they do, they should ensure better services are made available to the masses.
One of my travel experience was one from Pune to Jalgaon. Washroom facilities for women are extremely poor and also the food available at the food court was really bad quality. I paid ₹1,800 for an AC bus, but not efficient and emitted foul smell so not really worth spending that much of travel. I now look for other options to travel but there are very limited transportation to interior of the state.
Beena Surwade
