PUNE: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to increase charges levied on luggage carried by passengers. Ironically, MSRTC does not have weighing machines at its bus stations to weigh the luggage. The staff on duty will be estimating the weight looking at the size of the luggage.
Passengers carrying more than 20 kg luggage will have to pay Rs 5-100 per kilometre. The decision will be implemented from August 27.
As per the MSRTC rule, a passenger can carry luggage up to 50 kg, of which 20 kg is free per person.
Now the decision has been taken that if the luggage weight exceeds 20 kg, the passenger has to pay Rs 5 for up to 40 kg -- more if the journey is long.
The charges will be levied according to the stages of the route. Rs 5 will be added to the charges at every stage.
Roughly, MSRTC will levy charges of Rs 5 for the distance of 0-84 km for 20 to 40 kg of weight and for above 40 kg, Rs 50 will be charged. For a distance of 0-600 km, MSRTC will levy charges of Rs 50 for up to 40 kg and above that, Rs 100 will be levied.
According to a source from MSRTC Pune division, “Recently, the transport body has decreased bus fare, but to compensate, the levy on luggage has been imposed. The number of passengers travelling from Pune to rural areas is very high. These passengers carry food grain in large quantities and they also carry farming instruments, which weigh more than 20 kg.”
Vinod Kapdi, a regular passenger travelling from Pune to Aurangabad by Shivneri bus, said that if they impose charges, it will negatively impact passengers’ pockets. “Aurangabad is my native place and I am working in Pune. I travel quarterly and carry more than two luggage bags that weigh around 25-30 kg. The fare is around Rs 655 and if I add my luggage cost, it will go up to Rs 700 or more, which is unfair for passengers.”
Another passenger, Vilas Bande, travelling from Pune to Sangli, said, “On one hand MSRTC reduced passenger fare and on the other hand, they have increased the charges of luggage. How has it benefitted citizens?”