Private bus operators denying us travel on govt passes: Students

Students in Bhuna town of Fatehabad district staged a protest on Friday afternoon, blocking the Tohana-Bhuna road near the Sirsa-Chandigarh route. The protest erupted after private bus drivers allegedly refused to allow students with government-issued travel passes to board their buses.

According to protesting students, particularly girl students, private bus staff have been repeatedly denying entry despite valid Haryana Roadways passes, which are meant to allow free travel. They alleged that conductors asked them to buy tickets or get off the bus, ignoring the passes issued by the Education Department.

The issue escalated when a group of girl students attempted to board a private bus to Tohana. On showing their passes, the driver demanded ticket fare or asked them to leave the bus. Angry students gathered near the Bhuna bus stand, blocked the road, and raised slogans against the private bus owners, causing a complete halt in traffic for two hours

The police, led by SHO Om Prakash Bishnoi, arrived at the scene and spoke to the students. He appealed for peace and requested the protesters to clear the road, after which the students agreed to move to the bus stand premises for further discussion.

Bishnoi assured the students that no pass-holding student would be discriminated against and that the issue would be addressed fairly.

Meanwhile, Ramphal Tohana, head of the Private Bus Union, said under a 2016 government policy, the Education Department was supposed to reimburse the fare for free student travel. However, no payments had been made so far, he claimed.

He added that students would be allowed to travel without fare until Sunday, but from Monday, pass-holding students would be required to pay a concessional fare.

Private bus operators said they paid heavy taxes to the government and demanded either separate government buses for the students or reimbursement of free travel costs.

Talks between the students and the bus union indicated a temporary resolution, with the administration assuring the students that appropriate steps would be taken for their convenience.