Villagers block highway as private buses skip stops in Dharmapuri; RTO warns of permit cancellation
Private buses going to Krishnagiri or Hosur have two designated routes. One runs along NH 44, where buses have to pass through Periyampatti, or another route that accesses NH 844, making a detour via Pulikarai and Palacode to reach Hosur.
However, over the past year, many private buses have been failing to follow the designated route, leaving commuters stranded. On Tuesday, residents of Periyampatti waylaid over seven buses, disrupted traffic for over two and a half hours, and staged a protest blocking NH 44.
A few days ago, residents of Somanahalli also staged a similar protest, blocking NH 844 by seizing two buses. Meanwhile, the Regional Transport Office has issued fines of up to Rs 1 lakh each to private buses.
Speaking to TNIE, P Manivannan from Mallupatti, a retired postal employee, said, "The private buses here are crucial for labourers from the surrounding 20 villages, as most people here work in Hosur or Bengaluru. We have about five private buses arriving here daily, but since the opening of NH 844, which connects Dharmapuri-Royakottai and Hosur, the buses do not stop here. This has resulted in hundreds of labourers being left stranded and a loss of livelihood. Workers are forced to spend Rs 100 to Palacode by hiring private autos to access the nearest bus stand from where they can go for their daily wage work."
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