After transport department officials told to travel in bus at least once in a week, commuters of Delhi Transport Corporation buses have urged the authorities to ensure bus conductor go to every passenger to issue ticket.
The DTC commuters face several hardships in buying tickets during peak hours, as the conductor remains seated on their seats and the commuters have to approach them. However, in all the other States the conductors take a round to ensure that every passenger has the ticket.
“Why should DTC bus conductors make passengers come to them for issuing tickets, rather than get up and go to each traveller? This system is 40-50 years old and this should be changed. Like State roadways bus conductor who go to every commuter to issue tickets. The onus should be on DTC conductors that passengers should not be without ticket. The Conductor's duty is to ensure that every passenger who is travelling has the tickets, and if not they should issue him one,” said a commuter travelling on 118 bus service plying between Mori Gate and Mayur Vihar.
Another DTC commuter who boarded the bus to cover the distance of around 400 meter to Model Town, said that the conductor in the bus did not even get up from the seat to issue the ticket. I was unable to reach the conductor as the bus was overcrowded and there was no space for me to get him. On the next stop the ticket collectors boarded the bus and caught me for not having the ticket and fined me even after I told them about the situation. In other states, the conductor themselves approach the passengers to give the ticket but in Delhi it’s the major problem for a daily passenger.”
A person who did not wished to be named, boarded the bus from Karkardooma to Laxmi Nagar, said that the marshal who was present in the bus was sitting on the seat, while the women passengers were standing in the bus and when he asked the marshal to offer his seat to women passenger, he refused and misbehaved.
The difficulties of the commuters does not end here, as after buying the ticket, they have to keep their pockets safe from thieves, even after marshal appointed by state government, to maintain law and order situation in buses. Instead of discharging their duties they enjoy the bus ride and remain seated on their seats. The women commuters still does not feel safe, while traveling in the bus as the marshals of the buses failed miserably in fulfilling their duties.
The Managing Director (MD) of the DTC, Neeraj Semwal told The Pioneer that no complaint regarding the conductors has been received by the DTC. We will do an inspection regarding the issue and take strict action against the conductors who are performing this kind of activity.”
“The duty of the marshals is to ensure the safety of the passengers from the pickpocketers and thieves, to maintain the law and order situation in the bus, and to ensure that every commuter gets the seat, even if he has to offer his own,” he said.
“We will take strict action against the marshals who remain seated in their places. A negative report will be filed and sent to the Department of Revenue and the Directorate General of Home Guards and the marshal will be removed with immediate effect,” Semwal stated.