Bus drivers pocket money from hitchhikers

Private travel agencies’ bus boarding points in Kalasipalyam

By Christopher Isaac

BANGALORE (Sept. 29)—Hitchhikers without tickets are being allowed to fill up empty seats on private travel companies’ buses, with drivers pocketing the extra cash they ask from them.

This is a common practice that occurs on services operated by intercity travel agents, with bus drivers asking for amounts less than the actual ticket value, thereby making it a win-win situation for passenger and driver.

Kumail Sadiq, 23, a Bangalore-based college student, experienced this on a recent bus journey.

“The bus stopped near the outskirts of the city, and the driver was negotiating a price with a man who wanted to get on to the bus without a ticket,” Kumail said. “The man sat in the conductor’s chair for a while, but then shifted to an empty passenger seat.”

Drivers of some of these buses pocket money from hitchhikers, filling empty seats on the bus.

A representative from the travel company in question contacted by The SoftCopy denied the allegation, saying his drivers would not take that kind of risk.

Mr. Ravi, tourism department in-charge of SRS Travels, said: “Drivers are not supposed to do that. Maybe it was some last minute change, probably under instructions from the company.”

On the other hand, Srinivas Rao, Bangalore manager of Kesineni Travels admits that this practice goes on.

“It does happen sometimes, but if we get to know of it we take action against the driver in question [by suspending the driver],” Srinivas said.