APSRTC transporting merchandise in buses, leaves passengers in a fix

Vijayawada: APSRTC passengers are expressing their objection to the usurpation of their luggage space in the dickey of the buses and its use instead for transportation of private cargo. As per transport department norms, no bus of private travels, especially running long-distance, is permitted to load luggage other than those of the passengers. State transport officials often carry out raids on private travels’ buses, book cases and slap fines especially dealing with transport of merchandise not belonging to the passengers traveling in the buses. Passengers say the APSRTC buses transport bulk quantities of vegetables and milk containers etc in the buses on a daily basis, and ask why no action is being initiated despite this being a violation of rule.