Pune: The commencement of Diwali holidays has resulted in a surge of travelers on railways, state transport, and private buses as people head to their hometowns to celebrate the festival.

In response to growing complaints of fare hikes and to ensure the safety of passengers, the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) launched a rigorous inspection of private bus operators across the city.

The initial inspections found significant violations among the operators, leading to penalties totaling three and a half lakh rupees imposed on 36 travel buses.

As complaints of inflated fares charged by private travel operators began emerging during the Diwali season, the RTO organized a meeting with representatives from various travel associations.

The RTO advised them to adhere strictly to regulated fare limits, cautioning that non-compliance would result in strict actions, including fines.

Following this, on the night of October 24, the RTO deployed two special teams to conduct random checks on private bus services operating in Pune.

The RTO inspections uncovered multiple violations, including expired fitness certificates, breaches of conditions set by the transportation department, unauthorized cargo transportation in passenger buses, and a failure to display drivers' identification badges.

Given the seriousness of these violations, the RTO has decided to continue these inspections until November 5.

The Pune RTO has issued a public appeal, urging travel operators to comply with all regulations and refrain from charging excessive fares. This move is aimed at protecting passengers from exploitation during the peak travel period and ensuring their safe transit.