Private bus operators across Rajasthan are mobilizing for a significant protest against the state transport department's recent crackdown. The issue centers on the issuance of challans, or fines, for luggage carriers installed on stage carriage buses. Operators assert these penalties are baseless, as no formal order banning the carriers has been officially released by the authorities.
Operators Cite Contradictory Rules and Safety Concerns
The core of the operators' argument lies in a direct contradiction they perceive. They point to guidelines from the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways, which permit stage carriage buses to operate with luggage carriers. More critically, they reference Section 5/21 of the Rajasthan Motor Vehicles Rules, which explicitly allows stage carriage passenger vehicles to carry 45 kg of luggage per passenger.
Kailash Sharma, Vice-President of the Private Bus Operator Association Stage Carriage, voiced the practical dilemma faced by both operators and passengers. "Instructions have been given to remove luggage carriers from all passenger vehicles," he stated on Monday. "The government itself allows passengers to carry up to 45 kg of luggage. If carriers are not there, where will passengers keep this luggage? The rules specify that this luggage cannot be kept inside the bus to avoid blocking the way and becoming a safety hazard."
Official Stance and Deadline for Removal
The Rajasthan Motor Vehicles Rules, 1990, under rule 5.21, provide clear guidelines: "...a passenger's luggage may be carried on the roof of a stage carriage or in a locked boot or compartment set apart for the purpose, provided that where it is so carried on the roof, it shall be adequately secured by a protective netting."
Despite this, the state transport department has directed all Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) and District Transport Officers (DTOs) to ensure the removal of luggage carriers from stage carriage buses by December 31. Officials defending the move claim the decision aims to prevent the overloading of goods on buses, a practice they say leads to accidents. Transport Commissioner Purusottam Sharma was unavailable for comment.
Allegations of Bias and Revenue Motives
The private operators are demanding a revision of the rules before any punitive action is enforced against them. They also allege selective targeting. Satyanarayan Sahu, State President of the bus operators' association, highlighted this perceived injustice. "The same action should be taken for both private and Rajasthan Roadways buses," he argued. "If the state government's own rules allow luggage carriers on stage carriage buses, then why are challans being issued? This clearly shows the action is being taken to meet the revenue generation targets of the department."
The standoff creates uncertainty for thousands of passengers who rely on these buses for long-distance travel, often with substantial luggage. Operators insist that without a lawful amendment to the existing rules, the department's enforcement action is illegitimate. The protest movement is gaining momentum as the year-end deadline for carrier removal approaches, setting the stage for a potential confrontation between the private transport industry and the state administration.
