More plaints on inter-provincial special private bus service

Irangika RANGE

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has received 218 complaints from passengers regarding the inter-provincial special private bus service operated during the festive season.

NTC Chairman Roshan Gunawardene said most complaints were for overcharging, failure to return the balance to passengers, being discourteous to commuters. He said among other complaints were, failure to follow a time table, overloading, operating un-roadworthy buses, delay in reaching destinations on schedule and failure to adhere to traffic rules. He said that 95 complaints are on charging excess bus fares from passengers.

The NTC will cancel or temporarily suspend the route permits, if the drivers, conductors and owners of these buses are found guilty after conducting investigations.

The inter-provincial special private bus service commenced on April 5 and it will continue until April 22.

"We have received 46 complaints on harassment of commuters and 26 on non-issuance of tickets," he said.