<p>Even as the Transport department is cracking the whip on private buses for carrying commercial goods in violation of rules, the State-run buses appear to have been let off the hook for the same offence. <br /><br /></p>.<p>In the past few days, the department seized around 70 private buses for violations and most of these were found to be carrying commercial goods illegally. <br /><br />However, a visit to the Kempegowda bus station in the City, from where a large number of KSRTC luxury buses ply, reveals that even these buses violate the same rules as the private ones. <br /><br />Private buses get caught immediately as most of the commercial luggage are carried atop the bus or inside it, which is easily noticeable. But the KSRTC luxury buses, it is said, carry commercial goods in the side boot which is much spacious. <br /><br />Sources say that it is a common practice for luxury buses to carry commercial luggage in the boot, which does not attract the attention of the Transport department officials easily.<br /><br /> It is said that commercial goods are loaded into the boot of the bus first and then the luggage of the passengers.<br /><br />Transport department officials say that rules are the same for everyone, whether it is private bus operators or State-run buses. Narendra Holkar, Joint Commissioner, Transport department said, “Everyone is equal in the eyes of law. <br /><br />In the past, we have booked several cases against KSRTC buses as well for such violations. In the coming days, we will intensify efforts to rein in the violators - both public transport and private operators. <br /><br />As a matter of fact, no commercial luggage is allowed in any passenger bus,” he said. On the contrary, Rajender Kumar Kataria, Managing Director, KSRTC, defended the illegality by State-run buses. <br /><br />He said, “We have provisions in the law under which companies can book parcel weighing up to 500 kg, which can be carried. Over and above the permissible limit, checking is done at the time of booking the luggage”.<br /><br />KSRTC, it is said, has no mechanism to verify whether the parcel weight that is booked is the one that is loaded. <br /><br />Sudhakar, a Bengaluru resident who travelled to Panaji, Goa, last week in a KSRTC luxury club class bus, said, “The crew first allowed the loaders to put the commercial luggage and then the bags and trolleys of the passengers. I was under the impression that it is an acceptable practice.”<br />DH News Service<br /></p>
<p>Even as the Transport department is cracking the whip on private buses for carrying commercial goods in violation of rules, the State-run buses appear to have been let off the hook for the same offence. <br /><br /></p>.<p>In the past few days, the department seized around 70 private buses for violations and most of these were found to be carrying commercial goods illegally. <br /><br />However, a visit to the Kempegowda bus station in the City, from where a large number of KSRTC luxury buses ply, reveals that even these buses violate the same rules as the private ones. <br /><br />Private buses get caught immediately as most of the commercial luggage are carried atop the bus or inside it, which is easily noticeable. But the KSRTC luxury buses, it is said, carry commercial goods in the side boot which is much spacious. <br /><br />Sources say that it is a common practice for luxury buses to carry commercial luggage in the boot, which does not attract the attention of the Transport department officials easily.<br /><br /> It is said that commercial goods are loaded into the boot of the bus first and then the luggage of the passengers.<br /><br />Transport department officials say that rules are the same for everyone, whether it is private bus operators or State-run buses. Narendra Holkar, Joint Commissioner, Transport department said, “Everyone is equal in the eyes of law. <br /><br />In the past, we have booked several cases against KSRTC buses as well for such violations. In the coming days, we will intensify efforts to rein in the violators - both public transport and private operators. <br /><br />As a matter of fact, no commercial luggage is allowed in any passenger bus,” he said. On the contrary, Rajender Kumar Kataria, Managing Director, KSRTC, defended the illegality by State-run buses. <br /><br />He said, “We have provisions in the law under which companies can book parcel weighing up to 500 kg, which can be carried. Over and above the permissible limit, checking is done at the time of booking the luggage”.<br /><br />KSRTC, it is said, has no mechanism to verify whether the parcel weight that is booked is the one that is loaded. <br /><br />Sudhakar, a Bengaluru resident who travelled to Panaji, Goa, last week in a KSRTC luxury club class bus, said, “The crew first allowed the loaders to put the commercial luggage and then the bags and trolleys of the passengers. I was under the impression that it is an acceptable practice.”<br />DH News Service<br /></p>
