Almost 45 inter-state buses operating from Kerala including six Kallada buses have been penalised for violating legal norms. A fine of Rs 5000 each has been slapped on the buses.
The buses were discovered following the initiation of the Motor Vehicle Department's 'Operation Night Rider'. Under the project every RT office will depute a three-member squad headed by a Motor Vehicle Inspector to check speed-limit violations and transportation of goods other than passenger's personal luggage. The squad will also verify whether booking offices across the state are authorised to undertake their operations. Most of the booking agencies including Kallada had only the Contract Carriage permit for transporting passengers from one destination to another. However, most of these bus agencies have not acquired the permit to allow advance booking which facilitates respective passengers to board buses from main stops.
It has been discovered that Kallada's Thiruvanathapuram office and other booking centres are operating without a licence have been given a notice. Kallada's Thiruvalla booking office was shut by the Motor Vehicle's Department. The officers also curbed the services of seven buses en route to Bangalore and Chennai which allowed passengers to board from Thiruvalla. They were fined Rs 35000 each as they did not have the permit to allow passengers to board from intermediate stops. Amongst the 23 buses fined in Thiruvananthapuram six belonged to Kallada group. Four buses were also fined for carrying goods illegally.
The Transport Commissioner, Mr Sudesh Kumar, has issued a mandate that the booking offices have to procure a license within the next one week. The failure to do so will result in the lock-down of the agency offices. The agency offices were also instructed to upgrade the basic amenities such as seating facilties, toilets etc for enhancing passenger comfort. Follwoing the discovery that multiple buses operate under one permit, the Transport Minister, A K Sasidharan asked the authorities to intensify the search. All the bus agencies operating inter-state buses have been asked to submit their documents.
The authorities starting with the Transport Ministry and DGP came to the forefront committing stringent action against inter-state private transport buses who violate norms after passengers of a private bus heading from Thiruvananthapuram to Bengaluru were beaten up by its employees who protested as the crew didn't make alternative arrangements after their vehicle broke down. Employees of the bus named ‘Suresh Kallada’ thrashed three youth heading for their workplace in Bengaluru.
