For cash-less MSRTC, private staffers become bloodsuckers

MSRTC employees agitate at Azad Maidan, on Feb 3. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Rides without tickets on MSRTC buses are proving to be a major revenue loss for the transport body. The private staff appointed to keep MSRTC buses running due to the strike are ferrying passengers by collecting money without issuing tickets, said officials. The MSRTC has now directed its depots to conduct checks on buses and file police cases against those found involved in such irregularities.

"It has come to notice that the MSRTC buses engaged by private drivers have been ferrying passengers by illegally taking money, but without issuing proper tickets. This is a serious lapse and such practices have been leading to significant losses to the corporation," read a note issued by the MSRTC's general manager (transport), a copy of which is with mid-day.

Following the note, the organisation has asked its divisions and depots to conduct "line checking" which involves random checks on buses across the state every day.

"If such cases are found, the MSRTC ticket checkers have now been authorised to file FIRs and a police case against the private staff found indulging in such an irregularity and follow up with them to get the losses compensated from them. In addition to this, passengers found without ticket would be fined as per ticketless travel rules," the note added.

The MSRTC strike has crossed over 100 days, and of the 96,000 employees, 11,024 employees have been suspended and 7,608 dismissed as of now.

MSRTC employees went on strike from October-end over their demand for merger of the cash-strapped corporation with the state government. Despite giving a salary raise and assurances, there has been a stalemate. A court-appointed committee to look into the merger has now been asked to submit its report by February 18.

100
No. of days that the strike has continued