Nagpur: Taking action on illegal passenger transport operations eating into the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) revenue, the security and vigilance wing of the Nagpur Division, along with traffic police teams, penalised 51 private vehicles illegally parked within the prohibited 200-metre radius of bus stations during a special enforcement drive across the district on Saturday.The action, carried out at Ganeshpeth, Morbhavan, Kondhali and Katol bus stations, triggered panic among illegal passenger vehicle operators, many of whom allegedly solicit passengers outside ST depots, affecting both corporation revenue and commuter safety.According to officials, the highest number of violations were recorded at Morbhavan Bus Stand, where 19 vehicles were fined, followed by 13 each at Ganeshpeth and Katol bus Stands, while six vehicles faced action at Kondhali bus station. Besides parking violations, four private travel vehicles were also booked for illegal passenger transport operations.Authorities said illegal passenger vehicles often crowd entry and exit points of bus stations, aggressively approach commuters and obstruct movement of ST buses, besides diverting passengers away from govt-run transport services.Officials added that the campaign will soon be expanded across all 20 major bus stations in the Nagpur division with support from regional transport officers and depot managers. More surprise inspections and coordinated drives are expected in the coming days as authorities attempt to tighten the noose around illegal passenger transport networks operating near ST depots, said sources.The drive forms part of a state-wide special campaign launched from June 5 to June 15 following repeated concerns raised by MSRTC chairman and transport minister Pratap Sarnaik regarding mounting revenue losses due to unauthorised passenger transport services operating around bus stations. The campaign is being conducted under directives issued by Priyanka Naranware, chief security and vigilance officer and deputy inspector general of police, with a focus on strict implementation of the 200-metre ‘No Parking Zone’ around ST depots.The joint enforcement teams functioned under the guidance of Dhammaratna Dongre, senior security and vigilance officer, Nagpur region. Officials from the security and vigilance department, city traffic police, and local police stations participated in the operation.
