Students, elderly harassed as pvt bus operators fail to follow rules

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, August 2

Girls from the district are a harassed lot as they face the uphill task of pursuing their studies outside the village, courtesy the unreasonable attitude of private bus operators.

These conductors allegedly charge bus fare from these students despite them having bus passes issued to them by Haryana Roadways.

The bus operators also don’t spare senior citizens and other people who are provided special concessions in the bus fare from the government.

This practice is quite prevalent on the Rewari-Khaleta, Rewari-Kosli and Rewari-Pataudi routes where Haryana Roadways buses have an erratic schedule. Following which, passengers have to travel in private buses to reach their destinations, sources say.

Significantly, students and the elderly have filed complaints against private bus operators in this regard, but to no avail. Moreover, Haryana Roadways SC Employees’ Sangharsh Samiti also raised the issue to check this illegal practice followed by private bus operators.

Bhagat Singh, vice president of the samiti, said “Students and the elderly who come under 24 categories mentioned in the government policy are entitled to avail benefits in private buses too, but these bus operators are violating the policy by depriving the eligible people of such benefits.”

“Many private permit holders don’t let girl students board their buses and those who do charge fare from the students despite them carrying bus passes, which is illegal on part of private bus operators.

A girl student from Chillar village alleged even the conductors don’t hesitate in misbehaving with those students or elderly who refuse to pay the fare.

Another student from Maujabad village said once around 25 girls boarded a private bus at the main bus stand, but the driver made them disembark from the bus midway pretending that the bus had developed a technical fault.

Mahipal Singh, general manager at the Rewari bus depot, said, “As per government policy, private permit holders are bound to provide free travel to those girls who have a bus-pass issued by Haryana Roadways.”

Following complaints against private buses, we have got it written on the bus stand’s notice board that passengers are entitled to get all concessions in private buses too which are given by Roadways buses, Mahipal added.

Rewari DC Yash Garg said: “Several students had filed a complaint against private bus operators some days ago, but their problem was resolved immediately.”