Bale Right Poi! Bus Conductor Not just Overcharging, also being RUDE!

Bale Right Poi! Bus Conductor Not just Overcharging, also being RUDE!

Mangaluru: Bus conductors, once appreciated for their service as guides for passengers and assistants to drivers, are now better renowned for being the largest source of complaints. Among many reasons, one reason that there are numerous complaints against conductors, more than in previous years, is because there are now fewer checking inspectors at work across the city.

The BMTC control room receives about 15-20 complaints every day against BMTC bus conductors. Most of the complaints on bus conductors pertain to their rudeness andalso for overcharging the commuters and also in many cases, not issuing tickets. Also, complaints from passengers are that they have received used tickets. Sometimes, buses are not stopped at the designated stops, causing passengers inconvenience. An owner of a private bus speaking to Team Mangalorean said “We are aware of complaints from the public against conductors. We take action on the
complaint depending on its severity. If we receive information about
misbehaviour with women or elderly people on the buses, stern action
is taken. The conductor faces suspension from work. We receive
complaints of overcharging by conductors. The money goes straight into
the pockets of the conductors. We urge the Transport Department or the
Traffic Police to take action against the erring bus conductors. But
they cite lack of staff to inspect the buses,”

The incident that we are highlighting in this report, is an experience faced by one of the commuter, named Shamith Kumar (works at a company in Panambur), who had emailed us narrating his story- he wrote “Today as usual I was travelling from Ambedkar Circle (Jyothi Circle)-Mangaluru to NMPT Main Gate-Panambur Mangaluru in the service bus- SR Brothers bearing licence plate Number KA 19AC 1944. The bus conductor this time charged me Rs 12, usually, the charge is Rs 10, even in the KSRTC buses. When I asked the conductor regarding extra 2 bucks that he was overcharging me- he got rude and insulted me and literally asked me to get down from the bus.”

“At this moment I was so humiliated, that I didn’t argue with more, instead paid him the extra 2 rupees. The question is not of paying the conductor the extra 2 rupees but the way he insulted me, and being one of the passengers which is totally unacceptable. When I requested him for the rate card, he replied that the rate card was not available with him. Also when I told him that I would complain to the higher officials, he didn’t care about it, instead he said that I can go ahead and do whatever I can, which again insulted me badly. In this route usually, the laborers of the industrial area always get insulted by city and service bus conductors- and for that matter, including this bus conductor. I have sent my complaint to the DC also. I kindly request the concerned authorities to take this matter seriously and take stern action against the conductor for his rude behaviour. Also, I am marking a copy to media in Mangaluru to spread the news so that all the citizens will not get humiliated by uncultured bus conductors”.

Yet another lady commuter also called us and said, “It’s a shame that these private bus conductors try to make money to fill their own pockets. I commute regularly between my home in Kankanady and my workplace in Vamanjoor in private buses. I normally pay for a ticket one-way. Every time I have failed to give the conductor the correct amount in change, I have ended up paying more for the ticket — the conductor makes a note of the amount owed to me, but it is only when he is repeatedly reminded of the change that he will actually part with the amount. This happens often — it is rare to find a conductor who does not eye the change.”

In the meantime, though Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) for the private city buses were launched with much fanfare here, many of the city buses are not using the machines now, pinching the commuters hard. The ETMs were introduced after persistent complaints by passengers of overcharging and non-issuance of tickets. Some conductors were using the ETMs for selected trips only. Seems like at present, the setting of fares and the method of collecting them is commuter unfriendly – even tortuous and extortionist by some of these rude bus conductors.

If you look at it, travelling by private buses is a hassle- because many a time there will be arguments or fights between commuters and bus conductors. Many a time the argument is over change- commuters don’t have exact change, while the bus conductor won’t have the change either to give back. So who is to blame? Is the onus on the passengers, to always have exact change, or on the conductor to provide change? The main reason that conductors are always reluctant to part with change is because the management does not provide them with change. This is a nightmarish situation for all involved, and a solution needs to be implemented as soon as possible.

In conclusion, what has the RTO or the Traffic Police Department done to rectify such kind of rude behavior, overcharging, etc by the bus conductors- NOTHING! It is the need of the hour that the concerned authorities should come to the rescue of the commuters so that they can have a smooth and peaceful ride on the bus, rather than face all these inconveniences and hassles at the hands of some of these rude bus conductors- it has been a nightmare for may commuters who take the bus for the conveyance. Hoping that this report would bring a change and make a difference- let’s wait and see for the Website Impact!