AP transport department urged to stop raids on private buses

Travel operators and workers stage dharna in front of Guntur transport office

BACKLASH: Private bus operators staging a protest in front of the RTA office, in Guntur on Friday. Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

Private travel operators and workers on Friday staged a dharna in front of the Transport Department office asking the government to stop raids on private buses.

Private operators, drivers, cleaners, mechanics and office staff, carrying placards, sat before the RTA office and raised slogans against booking cases against private services, on the pretext of illegal operations.

Though the bus owners paid all taxes and obtained permits, RTA officials are stopping the buses at various points creating panic among the passengers and seizing the vehicles, they alleged.

Official firm on raids

The protesters parked buses of different agencies and expressed their protest. Traffic was jammed for about an hour on the RTO Office road due to the agitation.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to Deputy Transport Commissioner (DTC) V. Sundar and RTO B. Chandar urging them to stop the raids. However, the DTC said the raids would continue as per the instructions of the government on contract carriage buses and other vehicles which were operating violating the permit rules. The raids were being carried out at the safety of the public, the DTC clarified.