Shimla,April 28:An official Spokesman informed that it had been noticed by the State Transport Authorities that some private bus operators of Stage Carriage buses were charging bus fares less than the recently notified prescribed fares by resorting to illegal measures like overloading of buses so as to reduce their operational cost. He said that this practice amounts to violation of Motor Vehicle Act and Rules made thereunder and had been viewed seriously by the Government as overloading could lead to fatal accidents.
The Spokesman further stated that this unwarranted practice was also causing an unhealthy competition between HRTC and private operators. He said that the private operators were being cautioned not to under charge the prescribed fares as it was also leading to evasion of tax since no tickets were being issued to passengers. He warned the operators that any deviation from State Government notified rules would be dealt with seriously under the Motor Vehicle Act.
He also revealed that the State Transport Authority was launching a special drive so that the operators did not resort to such tactics and thereby causing pecuniary loss to the Government exchequer. He said that the fare rates fixed by the Government should be adhered to and tickets should also be issued invariably to the passengers by the private bus operators failing which their Route Permits would be cancelled besides other prescribed action under the rules.