Special drive to curb illicit operation of private vehicles

The three-day exercise begins at Garikapadu check-post

Employees of RTA office who attended to duties after a gap of almost two months, were busy catering to the transport-related needs of people in Vijayawada on Friday. Photo: V. Raju

The Transport Department is all set to crack down on vehicle operators flouting the rule book.

The office of the Deputy Transport Commissioner (DTC), where the staff resumed work on Friday after a gap of two months on account of ‘Samaikyandhra’ agitation, swung into action to curb illicit operations by private operators who have been causing a huge dent in the revenue of the AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) in the region.

A three-day special drive came into effect at the Garikapadu check-post, the Krishna-Nalgonda border on Friday. Allowing extra passengers, installing additional number of seats, more than the permissible number, charging extra fares, plying of vehicles as stage carriages and tax evasion are some of the common violations by private operators.

“For three days, we will educate private vehicle operators passing by the route to strictly adhere to the norms stipulated in the rule book. From Monday, we will start booking cases against the violators,” said DTC, Krishna, Ch. Shivalingaiah on Friday.

“Plying of vehicles as stage carriages with contract carriage permits by allowing passengers to board and alight at any point is a common violation by private operators. We need to check this and put an end to the practice,” said the DTC.

The department is also gearing up to tighten the noose around private vehicles plying illicitly in the city limits. “These vehicle operators, especially auto-rickshaw drivers, resorted to total anarchy in the two-month-long Samaikyandhra agitation period by fleecing the helpless commuters. Since RTC buses were off roads, they took undue advantage of the situation by charging exorbitantly from the passengers,” said Mr. Shivalingaiah.