Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
As Delhi tightens restrictions on polluting vehicles amid worsening air quality, an undercover investigation by IndiaToday’s sister channel, Aaj Tak has exposed claims of a parallel bus network operating across Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh.
In conversations recorded during three investigations, bus operators spoke of payments to facilitate operations, advance phone calls before inspections and arrangements to bypass restrictions on BS-IV diesel vehicles.
advertisement
Conversations recorded during three undercover investigations contain claims of payments to local intermediaries, advance alerts before inspections and arrangements to ensure that buses are not stopped by authorities.
The investigation comes at a time when Delhi is tightening restrictions on vehicles entering the national capital amid worsening air pollution. Under the applicable directions, diesel vehicles registered outside Delhi and complying with BS-IV or lower emission standards face entry restrictions, subject to the relevant vehicle categories and exemptions.
However, bus operators interviewed by the undercover team claimed that services continued to operate on several routes despite these restrictions.
OPERATORS CLAIM BS-IV BUSES CONTINUE TO RUN
During one conversation, the undercover reporter proposed operating a 2015-model BS-IV diesel bus from Delhi to Deoband in Uttar Pradesh. An operator identified as Nadeem assured the reporter that the vehicle would not be stopped.
Nadeem also claimed that buses continued to operate from Delhi to destinations such as Badaun, Bareilly, Pilibhit and Moradabad despite the restrictions.
Another operator, Asif, said his buses had not faced problems because of pollution-related restrictions. He also claimed that a separate operator had a fleet of around 300–350 buses.
The conversations, however, do not establish whether the vehicles had the required permits or were operating in compliance with the applicable pollution-control directions.
OPERATORS DESCRIBE PAYMENTS AND LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS
The investigation also recorded claims of payments and informal arrangements to facilitate bus operations on different routes.
Asif told the undercover reporter that arrangements for operating buses from Delhi to Baghpat, Shamli and Deoband could cost between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000. He referred to payments of around Rs 1,500 at a traffic signal or designated ‘point’ and described a system in which buses received a ‘marka’, or identification marker. Their registration numbers were then recorded, followed by monthly payments.
He further claimed that payments ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 were made at 10-12 checkpoints along routes passing through Khajuri, Ghaziabad, Baghpat and Deoband.
Another operator, Rajbir, estimated that operating a bus from Gurgaon to Bareilly involved expenses of around Rs 1.60 lakh, including amounts linked to the RTO, police and police stations. He also quoted Rs 1,500-Rs 2,000 for a Delhi ‘point’.
The conversations do not independently establish who received these payments or whether they were official charges or unauthorised collections.
CLAIM OF ADVANCE ALERTS BEFORE INSPECTIONS
One of the most serious claims concerns the possibility of bus operators receiving information before enforcement checks.
When the undercover reporter asked Rajbir whether buses could be stopped during inspections, he claimed that operators were informed in advance whenever checking was scheduled.
Nadeem, meanwhile, claimed that Rs 10,000 per month was paid for each of two separate ‘beats’ in Delhi. He also referred to local intermediaries and arrangements involving police and traffic-related matters.
The source of the purported advance information and the identity of those involved remain unverified. The claims raise questions about whether inspection-related information is being circulated to operators and whether enforcement checks are being compromised.
PASSENGER BUSES ALSO CARRY COMMERCIAL LUGGAGE
The investigation also highlighted a separate source of revenue for some operators. Nadeem told the undercover reporter that luggage was transported in sacks, with charges of Rs 200 for a regular sack and Rs 250-Rs 300 for larger ones.
This raises questions about whether the buses have the necessary authorisation to carry commercial goods and whether such transportation complies with applicable documentation, tax and safety requirements.
WHAT DO THE RULES SAY?
The regulatory framework governing buses involves separate requirements for vehicle emissions and transport permits.
Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, transport vehicles generally require valid permits for passenger operations. Section 66 deals with the requirement of permits, while Section 192A provides for penalties for specified permit violations.
A valid transport permit does not automatically exempt a vehicle from pollution-related restrictions. Similarly, meeting emission standards does not mean a bus can operate without the necessary permit or in violation of its conditions.
The investigation therefore raises questions about whether buses operating on the routes identified have valid interstate permits and whether they comply with the restrictions applicable to their registration and emission categories.
The claims also warrant scrutiny by transport and enforcement agencies, particularly regarding the purported payment arrangements and advance alerts before inspections.
While the undercover conversations do not independently establish wrongdoing by any official or department, they raise questions about the enforcement of transport and pollution regulations across Delhi-NCR. Verification of vehicle records, permits, payment trails and inspection procedures would be necessary to establish the extent of any violations.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
