Newskarnataka – Mumbai
Mumbai: Bus operators are alleging that the officials at the Koggunahalli checkpost at Nippani of Belgaum on the Karnataka Maharashtra borders, were rampantly fleecing the operators of the Mumbai-Mangalore buses on the pretext of safety of passengers.
The grouse of the bus operators is that the transport officials on the pretext of checking the safety of buses particularly in the backdrop of strict safety rules enforced following the Hyderabad bus tragedy which charred to death 44 passengers and the Haveri bus fire that claimed seven lives, were harassing the Maharashtra-Karnataka bus crew and passengers.
Another complaint is that the officials were scattering all luggage in the bus after stopping the bus for hours together even when the passengers are fast asleep by the time the buses reach the checkpost early in the morning.
It is learnt, many a time the sleepy passengers have refused to alight the buses to facilitate examination, the result of which is that the officials were demanding cash and even threatening to seize the bus otherwise.
Further, it is said the officials viewed the various goods in the luggage of the passengers with an eye of suspicion as if they were explosive materials and then refuse to allow them in buses.
The bus operators have stressed the need to raise the issue at the Transport Ministry and Transport Department meeting scheduled to be held in Bangalore on December 17 to discuss the GPS installation and other issues and have urged the transport minister R Ramalinga Reddy to look into the matter and ensure harassment free journey for the passengers and bus crew by providing them due protection.