Private bus operators in Himachal Pradesh are substantially increasing fares for routes connecting New Delhi to popular destinations like Shimla and Dharamsala, taking advantage of the surge in travel demand during the Diwali season. Commuters are reportedly being charged more than twice the standard ticket price, with fares on the Delhi-Shimla route escalating from approximately Rs 600 to Rs 1,500.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) is continuing to charge its regular fares, despite a significant increase in the volume of passengers travelling home for the festival.
Transport Department officials have indicated that their oversight of private bus operations is limited. These buses often operate under All India Tourist Permits, which require the payment of a single annual tax and permit them to travel across the country. This regulatory framework, according to officials, gives these operators considerable autonomy over their operations and pricing.
An official explained that the department has limited control over ticket pricing because these buses function under contract carriage permits. Under this arrangement, the fare is a matter of agreement between the bus operator and the passengers. The official added that enforcement actions, including challans, are issued against these buses when they are found to be in violation of contract carriage rules or other regulations.
Employees of the HRTC, however, have contested the notion that these private buses consistently adhere to contract carriage regulations. They allege that the operators engage in significant fare fluctuations based on demand, which negatively impacts the revenue of the state-run transport corporation. Khemender Gupta, secretary of the Joint Coordination Committee of HRTC Employees, stated that on days with low demand, these private buses often reduce their fares to below HRTC rates, thereby undermining the corporation’s business. Conversely, during periods of high demand, they exploit the situation by drastically increasing fares.
Gupta further revealed that the HRTC employees’ committee had initiated a legal challenge a few years ago concerning the alleged “illegal plying” of these private buses. However, progress in the court case has been reportedly slow.
The Additional Advocate General, Sushant Kapret, acknowledged that while contract carriage buses are technically permitted to set their own fares, there remains a need for a regulatory mechanism. He emphasized that the Regional Transport Office (RTO) should conduct regular checks to ensure that these buses operate strictly as contract carriages and not as stage carriages, which are subject to different pricing regulations. The distinction is crucial, as contract carriages are hired for a specific trip or duration by a group, while stage carriages operate on fixed routes with pre-determined stops and fares.
The current situation highlights a recurring challenge for transport authorities and commuters during peak travel seasons. The influx of private operators, particularly those with national permits, complicates regulatory efforts. While these services offer convenience and flexibility for some, their fare-setting practices, especially during high-demand periods like Diwali, often lead to public dissatisfaction and concerns about unfair pricing. The HRTC, as a public service provider, remains bound by regulated fares, making it difficult for them to compete with the price gouging sometimes employed by private operators.
The debate over the regulation of private buses, particularly concerning their operational models and fare structures, continues to be a point of contention. The reliance on All India Tourist Permits allows these operators a broad scope of movement, but the specifics of contract carriage versus stage carriage operations require stringent monitoring to prevent exploitation of consumers, especially during critical festive travel periods.
The Chenab Times News Desk
