SURAT – The integrity of the conductor supply agency has once again come under scrutiny after repeated incidents of conductors taking fares but not issuing tickets on Surat Municipal Corporation's city buses. While individual conductors face blacklisting for such infractions, the overseeing agency often escapes with mere financial penalties, leading to recurring revenue losses for the city.
Surat's city buses are a crucial transport medium for its residents, often operating at full capacity during peak hours with passengers even resorting to hanging outside the doors. As riders grapple with overcrowding, the Municipal Corporation is concurrently facing a decline in ticket revenue, causing an estimated financial setback of crores annually. This discrepancy has largely been attributed to conductors withholding tickets after collecting fares.
The gravity of the situation came to the forefront when Vipul Suhagia, an opposition corporator of Surat Municipality, traveled on City Bus No. 205. He reported that after paying a fare of ten rupees, he wasn't issued a ticket. Noticing a similar pattern with other passengers, Suhagia alerted the supervisory squad. Upon investigation, one of the buses was halted, and a case of misconduct against a conductor was confirmed. The conductor, in his defense, cited unpaid salaries for several months by the agency as a reason for his actions.
The Municipal administration insists that regular checks are conducted, imposing a Rs 250 fine on the supply agency for each passenger found without a ticket. However, conductors argue that these fines are invariably deducted from their already-delayed salaries, further deepening the chasm of mistrust.
Despite the mounting annual losses, the city has refrained from implementing stringent measures against the Man Power Supply Agency, such as blacklisting or other punitive actions. Critics argue that until the Municipal Corporation adopts a stricter stance against the agency's malpractices, the city will continue to bear significant revenue losses.
