HRTC blacklists six roadside dhabas

Ravinder Sood

Palampur January 20

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) today swung into action and blacklisted six roadside dhabas, found guilty of fleecing bus passengers. These dhabas were approved by the HTRC.

The Tribune carried a news item yesterday highlighting how the passengers were being charged exorbitant prices at the eateries.

Divisional Manager, Traffic, told The Tribune that following the news item, the HRTC directed the Divisional Manager, Mandi, to look into the matter.

He conducted a raid and found that “Aapni Haveli” an approved dhaba near Sundernagar, was not following the guidelines of the HRTC and overcharging passengers.

The Divisional Manager said five other dhabas, Green Valley-Karnal, Fauji Dhaba-Amb, Radhika Dhaba- Una, Teju Dhaba-Neharia and Mama Rasoi-Brampukhar, had been blacklisted for fleecing the passengers. He said the approved rate for ordinary and deluxe thali was Rs 60 and 160 while passengers were made to pay between Rs 200 and Rs 600. He said a WhatsApp number was issued by the government and any passenger could lodge their complaint.

The HRTC would initiate serious action to ensure that the passengers travelling in HRTC buses were not exploited or cheated by the wayside eateries. Drivers had been given strict directions to follow the guidelines or face termination. Meanwhile, several passengers from travelling from Palampur to Chandigarh today complained that though the HRTC had fixed the rates of eatables in its approved dhabas, such rates were never shared with the passengers. They demanded that the HRTC should display the list of the approved rates in its buses along with a menu so that no passengers was cheated.

Vijay Kumar, a passengers travelling to Delhi, said the HRTC should also install a GPS system in all Volvo buses so that their movement was traced by the authorities. He said private bus operators had installed GPS system in its fleet, the HRTC should also follow suit in the interest of passengers.

The manager appealed to the passengers to make a complaint to bus driver or conductor if they face any problem. If it was not resolved, then they could also contact at Divisional Manager (Transport) Shimla-03 or at mobile number 9418000460 or on landline number of Managing Director 0177-2656106.