Nashik RTO officials inspected 233 private buses between November 1 and 5 and found 65 violating safety rules or permit conditions, collecting more than ₹3 lakh in compounding fines and pending taxes during a festive-season enforcement drive.
The action targeted private contract buses and passenger vehicles operating in Nashik. Officials checked whether vehicles had valid permits and were complying with the conditions attached to them. They also examined safety equipment, passenger capacity and the way buses were being used.
The violations included operating without valid permits, breaching permit conditions and carrying commercial goods without authorisation inside passenger buses. Several vehicles were found without fitness certificates, reflectors, indicators, tail lights or functional wipers, according to the Nashik Regional Transport Office.
Inspectors also checked for illegal structural modifications, overloading beyond the registered passenger capacity, emergency exit doors and functional panic buttons. These checks were conducted as demand for private bus services rose during the festive season, when passengers often have fewer travel options and fares can increase.
The RTO also warned private bus operators against charging passengers more than the permitted fare limit. Under directions from the Transport Commissioner’s Office in Mumbai, private buses may not charge more than 1.5 times the per-kilometre base fare fixed by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation for equivalent categories.
The fare rule does not prohibit all seasonal fare increases. Nashik RTO official Pradeep Shinde said private operators could raise fares within the prescribed limit during periods of high demand, including the festive season. However, operators exceeding the ceiling could face action under the Motor Vehicles Act, the RTO said.
The enforcement drive places fare regulation alongside vehicle safety as a responsibility of the transport authority. For passengers, the two issues are closely connected: a private bus may be legally available for travel but still present risks if it lacks a valid fitness certificate, emergency equipment or required safety components.
Officials also examined whether buses were carrying more passengers than their registered capacity. Overloading can affect the operation of emergency exits and reduce the space available to passengers during an incident. The inspection of panic buttons and exit doors was part of the wider safety review.
Shinde asked commuters who are charged exorbitant fares by private bus operators to contact the Nashik RTO for necessary action. The authority has not disclosed the number of vehicles linked to each type of violation or identified the operators penalised during the November 1-5 drive.
The RTO said strict action would follow against operators who breach the prescribed fare limit or continue to operate vehicles without valid permits, fitness certification and required safety equipment.
