Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Mohan Joshi submitted a formal request to regional transport authorities (RTOs) to take action against unauthorized fare hike by private bus operators during the festive season.

As the festive season approaches, many students, employees and other travelers will start heading home from Pune. During this period, private bus services often increase their prices significantly. Congress leaders have urged the RTO to keep a check on private bus operators to ensure that they do not exceed the fare limit set by the RTO.

Joshi stressed that during the festive season, private bus operators often increase fares, thereby exploiting passengers. During Diwali, there is a significant movement of people from Pune to rural areas, and they book tickets with private operators and travel companies. Due to increasing demand, the standard rates have been increased by 50 per cent, he said.

He said, If the normal fare is Rs 200, then in this season it reaches Rs 300, causing financial problems to the passengers. The administration needs to take immediate action.

Congress leaders have also called for suspending unauthorized bus services and disseminating information about legally set fare rates through advertisements to ensure the safety of passengers.

In response, the RTO has committed to conduct inspections on specific routes after November 1 and take strict action against operators engaged in such practices.

Sanjeev Bhor, deputy commissioner of RTO in Pune, clarified, As per rules, private operators are allowed to charge up to 1.5 times the standard fare set by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), but they cannot exceed this limit. Same class buses. We have deployed four squads in Pune city to deal with this matter.