Private bus operators' fare high

Private bus operators started fleecing the rural passengers with fare hike, without proper permission from the competent authorities. They have increased the fare arbitrarily all of a sudden without any prior information to the public.

Heated arguments between the passengers and crew members have become a common scene in many routes from and to Krishnagiri, such as Tirupathur, Hosur and Dharmapuri and Uthanagarai in the district.

The fare hike by the private bus operators was also raised at the farmers’ grievances meeting by Mr. S. Alagirisamy, District Secretary of the BSNL Employees Union of the combined districts of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri, on Thursday.

While replying to the complaint, Collector Mr. Arun Roy said that he too received some complaints from the public and the Regional Transport Officers were asked to check this menace immediately. Show-cause notice was also issued to one of the operators in this regard.

Further to this, a survey conducted by this correspondent on Friday morning revealed that many private bus operators are fleecing the public despite a severe warning by Mr. N. Palanivelu, Regional Transport Operator, in September.

A private bus plying between Hosur and Krishnagiri was charging Rs. 18 on Friday (original fare was Rs. 15.50). Another operator collected Rs. 11 from Pochampalli to Krishnagiri as against the original fare of Rs. 10. Like wise Rs. 6 was collected from Bargur to Krishnagiri as against the original fare of Rs. 5 and Rs. 8 instead of Rs. 7 from Karimangalam to Krishnagiri. Of the four operators, one issued ticket even without the name of the transport.

Mr. N. Palanivelu told The Hindu that he was asked to take action against the private operators by Collector Mr. V. Arun Roy on September 27. Upon his instruction he had convened a meeting of the private operators the next day and instructed not to increase the fare, failing which, severe action would be initiated. A circular was also issued to all the private operators in this regard, the following day.

The Inspectors attached to the Office of the RTO were conducting surprise checks and slapped fines for overload and other violations etc.

Mr. Palanivelu also assured that he will look into this issue immediately and will take suitable action in this regard.

D. Ravindran, District Secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist) told The Hindu that it is an act of injustice to the rural masses. Unofficially the government had given its green signal for hiking the fare to the private operators, he alleged. He said, the party is vehemently opposing the fare hike.