No more loot! If the private tourist buses charge you extra in Maharashtra, then lodge a complaint

Mumbai, April 30: Transport by private buses has already been putting holes in our wallets while we travel outstation, but if the private tourist buses charge you extra, then you can lodge a complaint! Maharashtra Transport Department has launched a helpline for citizens to file a complaint against private tourist buses charging excess fares.

"Commuters who come across private buses charging more than 1.5 times the normal MSRTC rates should register complaints on toll-free number 022-62426666. Every complaint will be treated seriously and an inquiry will be conducted. If found guilty, we can suspend or cancel the errant bus operator’s permit,” said Additional Transport Commissioner Satish Sahasrabudhe.

The department has also created a special squad that will keep tabs on buses, check incognito and find out if private buses are overcharging passengers.

Last week, the state government issued a notification putting a cap on fares of private tourist buses plying across the state and from cities like Mumbai and Pune to various parts of the country. The notification said that buses can charge 50% more than the normal MSRTC fare. If the normal fare on a particular route is Rs 1,000, the private operator can charge commuters a maximum of Rs 1,500 for the trip.

The new rule will apply to all journeys within the state, including popular inter-city routes such as Mumbai-Pune, Mumbai-Kolhapur and Mumbai-Nashik. It will also apply to inter-state routes such as Mumbai-Udaipur, Mumbai-Goa, Mumbai-