The Coimbatore Consumer Cause has expressed its opposition to the charging of excess fare from passengers on the Ukkadam - Pollachi stretch citing route diversion caused by Eachanari flyover construction works.
Buses on Coimbatore – Pollachi route on both directions were diverted due to construction of a flyover near Eachanari Temple, without proper approval from competent authority / intimation / notice to the public and excess fare was being collected illegally for the same, said K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause.
It is unfortunate that without any proper communication to the public by the competent authority, the buses were diverted.
The Regional Transport Authority may be aware that if the diversion is to remain in force for more than one month, notification in the Official Gazette is statutory as per Sec.115 of the Motor Vehicle Act. Unfortunately, now the buses are plying on the diverted route, No gazette notification was issued till date.
Before diversion of traffic, the Regional Transport Officer, after getting the approval of the Regional Transport Authority, i.e. District Collector, should give advance information to the public. But it was not done.
It is given to understand that the RTO himself is not aware of the route diversion, when it was diverted and knows it only through media, he said.
The TNSTC buses (major operator) had increased the fare suo motu with scant regards for rules. As per the rules, just because they are government buses, they cannot increase the fare on their own and they must collect only the fare approved by the RTO.
The private bus operators also increased the fare. Increase in fare ranges from ₹3 to ₹7.
The stage carriers must operate their buses as per the permitted route and were permitted to take a diverted route due to road work etc. with a view to enabling it reach its destination as per Sec. 40 (l) of MV Act. It is only to reach the destination and no rules permit them to collect excess fare.
The permits of the buses – government or private - could be suspended / cancelled for collecting excess fare from the public, he said.
The public also suffer due to diversion of buses and had to spend additional 30 to 45 minutes and who is to compensate the public for their valuable time?
Hence, public as well as bus operators have to bear it since the development work is necessary and unavoidable, said Mr. Kathirmathiyon.