City's pvt buses banned in Ch'garh

The Chhattisgarh transport department has imposed a ban on private buses from Nagpur in its state citing violation of permit rules. The ban, imposed from August 1, is causing grave inconvenience to passengers.

On Friday, Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena (MNVS) staged protests against the decision at Nagpur RTO office, terming it as arbitrary and against passengers' interest. At least a dozen buses operate from Nagpur to cities like Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Rajnandgaon and other places in Chhattisgarh.

Over 50 employees of private transporters supported by MNS arrived at the RTO office and raised slogans against Chhattisgarh. Later, they called on RTO VV Lande and submitted a memorandum demanding ban on entry of private buses from Chhattisgarh in Maharashtra.

"If RTO fails to discuss the issue with its counterpart in Chhattisgarh, we will not allow private buses from the neighbouring state in Maharashtra," warned Gajanan Tiple, vice-president of MNVS.

Private buses from Nagpur to the bordering state are being operated for the past 10 years but it is for the first time the ban has imposed from August 1. Bus operators are suffering a loss of Rs 6 to 7 lakh per month besides causing inconvenience to passengers.

Chhattisgarh additional transport commissioner BS Maravi justified the ban on entry to private buses from Maharashtra. There were frequent clashes between private operators from Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra due to overlapping of timings.

"The ban has been imposed on six buses from Nagpur and two from Raipur. All these buses are violating national permit rules. The rules state that buses with national permit should operate from one destination to another and vice-versa," said Maravi.