By Sitaram Mewati l Mumbai
A question over the treatment of senior citizens on BEST buses has raised concerns about passenger dignity and the need for clearly displayed boarding rules. The issue came to light at Goregaon East bus station on Saturday night, August 8, when a senior citizen waiting for BEST bus route 344 was allegedly refused permission to board through the front gate.
This correspondent was present at the bus station and witnessed the incident and the subsequent exchange between the passenger and BEST staff.
The incident occurred at around 10 pm. The senior citizen attempted to board the bus through the front gate, but the driver and conductor did not allow him to board from the front.
Seeking clarification, the passenger approached the bus starter at the chowky, who identified himself as Sharma. The passenger asked why senior citizens were not being permitted to board through the front gate, stating that, according to his understanding, elderly passengers were allowed to board from the front even at the originating point of a bus service.
Sharma reportedly told the passenger to come the following day and said he would check with the depot manager regarding the applicable rule.
The passenger then questioned why, if such a BEST rule exists, it was not prominently displayed at the bus station. He said clearly displaying the rule would help senior citizens and other passengers understand the procedure and prevent unnecessary arguments with staff.
During the exchange, a BEST bus driver seated on a chair next to the bus starter intervened. In the presence of this correspondent, the driver spoke in a manner the passenger found rude and disrespectful. The driver reportedly said that senior citizens could not board through the front gate beyond a limit of five passengers and described it as a BEST rule.
The driver’s batch number, visible in a photograph taken at the bus station, is 017037. The photograph also shows him seated next to the bus starter. Whether drivers are permitted to use the seat beside the bus starter while on duty is a matter BEST authorities may clarify.
The senior citizen maintained that he was not demanding a designated senior-citizen seat. If those seats were occupied, he said, he was willing to travel standing and only wanted to be allowed to board the bus.
Following the incident, this correspondent contacted Sunil Vaidya, BEST PRO, through WhatsApp. Vaidya said the matter had already been communicated to Mr Naidu of the Traffic Department at Dindoshi Bus Depot and that necessary communication would be given to conductors and drivers.
The incident raises a broader public-interest question: if specific boarding restrictions apply to senior citizens, should BEST not clearly display the rules at bus stations? Transparent rules, consistent implementation and courteous treatment can help ensure that public transport remains accessible while preserving the dignity of senior citizens.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
