[Resolved]  BMTC, Bangalore, Karnataka — Complaint against bus driver

Address:

Bangalore, Karnataka

Bus Number: KA 01 FA 1927,
Route: 500 DA (ITPL to Hebbal)

This is not the first instance where a BMTC bus driver has insulted or instigated a passenger for an unnecessary argument.

We were a group of 6 members (3 girls & 3 boys) and we boarded the bus from in front of SAP Lab, Whitefield. We were headed for Innovative Multiplex, Marathahalli. Since it was office hours (approx 6:30 PM) the volvo was over crowded.

When 3 o[censored]s (girls) boarded the bus from the front gate, the bus door was not even closing properly. There were 3 or 4 middle aged men standing near the driver's seat (2 of them were told to be BMTC officers). With advancement of each bus stop the crowd started increasing and there was no way that the ladies can stand without leaning on the men...we were just pressing against each other. Knowing the fact that volvos have air brakes and the handle bars are quite high it was really very inconvenient to stand in that situation. Though none of the ladies budged a word, the inconvenience was prominent on their faces.

I was feeling weird and hence told one of the gentlemen, "Bhaiya aap log kyun piche wala gate pe nahi chale jate?" (Brother why don't you all go to the back gate)...those were the exact words without .001 % of rudeness in it. To this the driver replied that we can get off the bus if we had any problem...adding to it, at the next stop he asked us to get down.

Once we reached our destination, we took the name of the depot and wanted to know the name of the driver without using any profanity. To this the driver started reacting...started abusing...using vulgar words (asking the boys in the group to take the girls to their home if they are so much bothered). This resulted in a 5 to 7 minutes altercation.

My questions are:
1. Did we say anything wrong?
2. Did we use any vulgar words that the driver started reacting?
3. We are the passengers. We purchase the tickets. Its a public conveyance. Who are they to decide if we can board the bus or not?
4. Drivers generally do not allow male passengers to board from the front gate when the bus is too crowded. Then why should BMTC employees be an exception to this rule?

The government is trying to motivate citizens to commute in public transport. Do you really think we would feel comfortable if this is the kind of behaviour meted out to us? We strongly feel there needs to be an end to this.

Looking forward to some action on this

Regards
A fellow citizen