Bus operators flout RTA revised rates - Max

Our Correspondent

Kohima, July 22 (EMN): Even as the authority concerned has recently enhanced bus fare from INR 10 to INR 20 per passenger traveling between certain bus stops, many who are unaware about the latest hike have been paying extra for commuting through such private transportation even between shorter destinations in the capital city.

As per directives from the chairman of Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Kohima, who is also the deputy commissioner, city bus fare was enhanced to INR 20 from INR 10 for traveling between Razhu Point to PHQ, PHQ to Keziekie, Keziekie to High School Junction and PHQ to Lerie, while the fare of INR 10 remained the same for commuting between Keziekie to Tinpati, Tinpati to High School Junction, Tinpati to Razhu Point, Razhu Point to Phoolbari and Phoolbari to PHQ.

However, bus operators seemed to be taking full advantage of ignorant passengers by charging them INR 20 instead of the prescribed INR 10 for traveling between shorter destinations.

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Despite necessary notice being updated through local dailies and other means, the authority seemed to have never showed up for necessary inspection against such unlawful activities practised by the bus operators in broad daylight just as during the Covid-19 pandemic period.

Despite notice on the revised being pasted on the door of most of the buses instructing the operators to charge accordingly, the conductors were seen openly collecting fares unfairly from passengers onboard their vehicles.

An elderly passenger who took a bus from PHQ to Phoolbari, informed this newspaper that she was not returned her change although the conductor took INR 20.

On one occasion, a boy conductor, aged around 13 years, was seen collecting INR 20 from every passenger, who were supposed to pay INR 10 for traveling to PHQ from Phoolbari.

On being asked why he was charging INR 20 instead of INR 10 for traveling between the aforementioned destinations, the boy simply responded that the fare has been enhanced, thereby openly defying the prescribed guidelines.

In another surprising incident, a bus conductor was seen charging INR 20 for ferrying passengers from PHQ to Phoolbari, reasoning that they were supposed to charge extra fare for picking and dropping people between the two bus stops.

"The bus conductor did not ask us about our destination and directly took INR 20 from each one of us although we were supposed to pay INR 10 each," said a passenger who paid extra fare for traveling to PHQ from Phoolbari.