Source : PTI | Private bus operators in Kolkata have threatened to launch an agitation soon, alleging that repeated cases and hefty fines imposed by police and Motor Vehicles Department officials over fare-related violations are making it increasingly difficult to run the service.
In a letter to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Transport Minister Arjun Singh recently, the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate General Secretary Tapan Banerjee said cases were being filed against buses at various places in the city on August 12 and 13, which included charging a minimum fare of ₹10 from passengers.
A transport department official said the officials are taking action following complaints by some passengers that some buses collect ₹10 as the first stage fare, which was not yet ratified by the authorities.
The operators said bus fares had not been revised for nearly nine years and the number of buses on city roads had consequently declined.
Banerjee claimed on Monday that several buses were fined ₹10,000 each by the Motor Vehicles authorities for collecting the minimum fare of ₹10.
“Private transport services will collapse if such action continues,” he said, urging the state government to immediately stop the fines and consider a revision of bus fares.
“At present, bus operators are unable to recover even fuel and other operational costs. Imposition of fines of ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 is adding to their difficulties,” Banerjee said.
He also urged the government to ensure that the officially prescribed fare chart continues to be displayed inside buses, as was done earlier, so that operators are not penalised over fare-related issues.
In a separate message circulated among bus operators, the syndicate alleged that “if this harassment of private public transport continues, there will be no way to save the business”.
The syndicate, the apex body of 1,500 buses in the city, said operators warned that all organisations representing private bus owners will take to the streets from next week and appealed to their members to stand united.
