HP Transport Minister Mr. G.S. Bali today said that it was the responsibility of the Government to ensure safe and comfortable travel facility to the commuters and there would be no compromise as far as their safety was concerned. Issuing a statement to media today he said that complaints were pouring at regular intervals regarding overloading of private buses causing inconvenience to the passengers. He said that such complaints were being received from the general public that few private bus operators were not adhering to the conditions of the permit issued to them and in some cases few were operating bus services even without the permits.
Taking cognizance on these complaints, the directions were issued to the Departmental officials for checking such buses throughout the State on 30 November, 2016 and to take appropriate action as per the rules. The Minister urged the private bus operators to follow the permit conditions under Section 192-A under Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 failing to which strict action would be taken against them adding that there was a provision of minimum imprisonment of three months. He said if any complaint was received in future against the private bus operators regarding disobeying the conditions of contract carriage permit, the department would submit challan in such cases in the court as per the provisions of the Act.
He also warned the online booking agencies not to issue the tickets of contract carriage buses otherwise stern action would be taken against them. He appealed to the passengers of the other states to ensure that the buses through which they were traveling to Himachal Pradesh were plying on the basis of contract carriage permits so as to avoid any inconvenience.
