Being forced to purchase tickets despite pass, say girl students

KARNAL: While the Haryana government claims to have made alternate arrangements for ferrying passengers amid the ongoing roadways employees strike, girl students in Karnal allege that private bus operators are forcing them to purchase tickets even though they have student passes, which allow them to travel free in any bus in the state.

Pallavi, a student and a resident of Yamunanagar, says, “I study Kurukshetra University and have to travel from Yamunanagar everyday. The conductor of a private bus has been harassing me to purchase ticket even though I told him that I have a student pass. It seems that the private bus operators are making the most out of the roadways employees strike.”

Another student, Nidhi Tyagi, said, “Though I have a bus pass, I am spend around ₹70 these days to travel my coaching classes in Kurukshetra.” Haryana Roadways Kurukshetra Depot general manager Lekh Raj said, “Girl students are allowed to travel free in all private and government buses and nobody can ask them to purchase a ticket.”]

“I will take up the issue with the regional transport authorities and ask them to ensure that the government scheme for girl students is implemented in private buses as well.”

Kurukshetra deputy commissioner SS Phuila said, “Now that the matter has been brought to my knowledge, we will issue strict directions in this regard.”