Pune: Complete Negligence of Swargate Police to ST Administrations Complaints; Investigation Reveals Zero Action by Police in 40 Plus Complaints by ST Administration in Last Year
Pune:
The horrific rape of a 26-year-old woman at Swargate ST Bus Stand has ignited widespread outrage from people for severe lapses in passenger safety by both the State Transport (ST) administration and the police. The administration is now under fire for its failure to ensure passenger safety, while the police face intense criticism for turning a blind eye to repeated warnings about criminal activities at the bus depot.
A latest investigation in this case has revealed that the Swargate ST administration had submitted over 40 formal complaints in the past year to the Swargate police, alerting the police about illegal agents infiltrating the premises and harassing passengers, including cases of intimidation by transgender individuals. Surprisingly, despite these repeated complaints, the police have not taken any concrete action in this case.
Illegal Passenger Traffic Flourishes in Pune’s Major Bus Depots
Pune’s three major ST bus depots—Swargate, Wakdewadi (Shivajinagar), and Pune Station—handle massive passenger footfalls on a daily basis. Swargate ST stand-alone operated 1,700 buses every day, while Wakdewadi bus depot operated around 850 buses daily. Despite this, these bus depots remain hotspots for illegal passenger traffic. Unregistered private vehicles and unauthorised travel agents operate openly in these depots, taking away passengers even from inside the depots.
In many cases, when ST officials attempt to stop these agents from illegally entering the bus depots, they are met with threats and intimidation. The unchecked presence of these agents has left ST employees fearful and helpless. This ultimately increased the passenger’s difficulty while travelling.
Police Inaction Fuels Criminal Activity
Surprisingly, despite numerous complaints filed by the Swargate ST administration, the police have not taken any strong action in this regard. Several of these complaints even contained names of specific offenders, yet the police have not taken any action. The failure to crack down on these miscreants has emboldened them, worsening the situation for both the administration and commuters.
Due to overcrowding, lack of an effective surveillance system, and insufficient security personnel, passengers frequently fell victim to theft at these bus depots. Further, some people got robbed during the journey when criminals used sleeping pills in their meals. The absence of strict police action has only led to a rise in such incidents.
Ignored Recommendations for Passenger Safety
In this regard, the Swargate Police corresponded with the Swargate ST administration dated July 16, 2024, in which they suggested 15 measures to improve security at the bus stand. These recommendations included ensuring clean drinking water for passengers, maintaining cleanliness, increasing security guards at major stops such as Solapur, Mumbai, and Satara, deploying more guards at entry points, enhancing CCTV surveillance, and improving lighting in the depot area. However, while these measures were recommended, their implementation remains sluggish, and passengers continue to feel unsafe.
