Free bus ride by cop triggers challan war with Rajasthan

An attempt of a free ride by a Haryana policewoman in a Rajasthan Roadways bus has triggered a tussle between the transport authorities of the two states. Transport and police authorities at both sides have been issuing challans to the public transport buses from opposite states.

The issue reportedly flared up three days ago when a Haryana policewoman took a Rajasthan Roadways (RR) bus to reach her destination. When the conductor of the bus asked for a ticket, she refused to pay the fare stating that she belonged to the Haryana Police, which provided cops travel facilities in Haryana Roadways. The woman cop refused to get off the bus and also did not pay the fare. Sources said after the incident, the Haryana Police authorities issued challans to some Rajasthan buses in the last three days.

In retaliation, the Rajasthan police and transport authorities today issued challans of 26 Haryana Roadways buses in the Jaipur area only. The challans were issued for not wearing the dress by the driver and even wrong-lane driving.

Haryana Roadways

sources said the action by Rajasthan authorities seemed improper and biased. The roadways staff were not at any fault if the police or the transport authorities in Haryana had issued challans to their (Rajasthan) buses in Haryana. “But the string of challans have adversely impacted the Haryana Roadways services and the

drivers are upset over this,” said an official.

Amit Mahrana, the Haryana Roadways Union president said it was a serious matter and a committee took up the matter with senior officials of the Haryana Transport Department today itself. He said the committee would meet the Director General in Chandigarh tomorrow to intervene in the matter. Sujan Singh, DG, state Transport, when contacted by The Tribune said the matter had been brought to his notice. “We will take up the matter at the appropriate platform and resolve it,” he said.