3 chapattis, dal, water bottle for Rs 600 at roadside dhabas

Ravinder Sood

Palampur January 19

Roadside dhabas, approved by the Himachal Road Transport Corporation, in the state are fleecing passengers.

Various complaints made to the HRTC by passengers have yielded no results in past two years.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that the HRTC had approved hundreds of roadside dhabas. Most drivers and conductors have a tacit understanding with some eateries. Passengers are charged exorbitantly while drivers, conductors and officers of the HRTC are served food free of cost.

Many passengers told The Tribune that for a simple meal, they were charged between Rs 240- Rs 600. Though the HRTC had fixed the rates for all food items, none adhered to the rates. Even most dhabas had not displayed the rate list which was mandatory. But no officer ever visited these eateries to verify the ground realities.

Sanjay, a passenger on way from Chandigarh to Manali, told The Tribune that he was charged Rs 240 at a dhaba near Sundernagar. He said the HRTC should direct the drivers not to stop buses in such dhabas and also keep a check and enforce the rate list approved by its Managing Director.

David, a British citizen, said he was travelling in a Volvo bus from Delhi to Dharmsala. It stopped at a dhaba in Haryana.

He was charged Rs 600 for three chapattis and dal with a bottle of mineral water. Another passenger said he also made a complaint to the MD, HRTC, Shimla, but no action was taken.