Kollam RTO suspended for allowing bus operator to breach service rules

KOLLAM: The RTO in Kollam, D Mahesh was suspended for helping a bus operator run stage carriage service using contract carriage service permit.

Contract carriage vehicles according to rules can’t stop midway to pick up passengers and take money. Such vehicles will have limited passengers from the start but won't allow any more in the middle of the journey. Meanwhile, stage carrier buses can stop at places and can pick up passengers for the onward journey to their destination.

According to the transport secretary Biju Prabhakar, the bus operator from Kottarakara starts his service from Kottarakara and travels to Amrita Hospital in Ernakulam. Throughout the journey, the bus stops at places to pick up passengers which is against the rules. Many in KSRTC complained the same to RTO but hitherto no action was taken.

The transport secretary asked for a report from RTO but the latter failed to find any evidence of a breach of conduct. However, in the report mentioned, there were instances when more than 18 passengers were picked up from places during the journey. The secretary taking concern of the issue decided to suspend the RTO for allowing the bus operator to such breach of conduct.

Meanwhile, the employees in MVD have now turned up in protest against the decision to suspend Kollam RTO.