Coimbatore : Bus passengers in Coimbatore have a long list of complaints against private bus operators like rash driving, skipping designated bus stops, more than four conductors seen travelling on foot boards as well as occupying seats reserved for women passengers, drivers playing loud indecent songs and loud honking. The general grouse against private bus operators is that they are blatantly flouting rules and yet getting away scot-free.
Coimbatore : Bus passengers in Coimbatore have a long list of complaints against private bus operators like rash driving, skipping designated bus stops, more than four conductors seen travelling on foot boards as well as occupying seats reserved for women passengers, drivers playing loud indecent songs and loud honking. The general grouse against private bus operators is that they are blatantly flouting rules and yet getting away scot-free.
When a few members of the public requested the private buses to stop being a nuisance, they were reportedly threatened by goondas. Though cases have been registered in police stations, only zonal traffic police can lawfully initiate action against the erring private bus operators. But they have reportedly failed take any action against these private buses.
Public allege that due to the inaction of officials, private bus drivers and conductors stop buses wherever they wish to and end up causing traffic jams. Private bus drivers allegedly have been seen indulging in verbal duels on the road to pick up more passengers.
A private bus 'Sri Devi S3' going from Theethipalayam to ESI Hospital stop and another private bus 'Gokulam 23A' going from Pothanur to Varadarajapuram were caught in a verbal duel, right in the middle of the road. The public reportedly also joined in and attacked the private bus drivers for their atrocities. The Singanallur police took the driver and the conductor to the police station and registered a case under the Prevention of Atrocities Act.
"The private buses which were supposed to go up to Varadarajapuram and ESI Hospital are turning around at the Uppilipalayam bus stop itself on the pretext of seats already being fully occupied. Passengers are thus forcefully made to get down even before their respective bus stops. In the case of the two private buses in a verbal duel while picking up passengers, we had already complained about this to the District Collector, two weeks ago," said a social activist. "This has caused inconvenience to the public. The indifference and inaction of the Traffic Police even after several complaints and media spotlight on these issues needs to be looked at," added the social activist.
With the District Collector K Rajamani diligently dealing with even small issues and providing immediate solutions based on petitions by the public, passengers are now forced to approach the Collector, seeking a permanent solution to the atrocities of the private bus operators.