With all the 670 buses operated by the North-Eastern Karnataka Road Transportation (NEKRTC) in the Raichur Division remaining off the road in the wake of the employees’ strike on Monday, private operators exploited the passengers by overcharging across Raichur district.
Village residents exchanging heated arguments with operators of light-duty and medium-duty passenger vehicles over fares were common scenes outside bus stands in Raichur, Manvi, Sindhanur, Lingsugur, Deodurg, and Maski. In some places, police constables on duty intervened and persuaded the operators to slightly reduce the fares.
“I was unaware of the transport strike. I reached Lingasugur in the morning and Raichur by noon by undertaking break journeys and overpaying with each leg of journey. I had to spend Rs. 220 and five hours against the normal bus fair of Rs. 90 and the travel time of three hours,” an old woman told The Hindu at Raichur bus stand.
Outside Raichur bus stand, private operators most of whom did not have permissions for operating mini-passenger vehicles, charged Rs. 200 for Sindhanur, Rs. 80 for Sirwar, Rs. 100 for Manvi against their normal bus fair of Rs. 83, Rs. 40 and Rs. 50, respectively.
Upon the request by the NEKRTC employees, Andhra Pradesh State Road Corporation and Telangana State Road Transport Corporation did not operate their buses in Raichur district compelling the commuters to completely depend on private operators.
Buses from other States did not operate buses following request
by RTC staff
