Minibus skips Neral stop for Matheran, driver and conductor accused of rudeness to senior citizens

The driver and conductor of an ST minibus plying to Matheran have been accused of treating senior citizens in an insulting manner. The minibus did not halt at the bus stop in Neral and went straight towards Matheran, forcing the passengers waiting for it to take a taxi. The driver and conductor are alleged to have been rude to the passengers who questioned them. The Matheran Kshatriya Maratha Samaj has condemned the incident.

The incident took place on October 18. The minibus, which runs on the Karjat-Neral-Matheran route, did not arrive at its designated stop in Neral. The passengers who had been waiting for the bus finally had to travel by taxi. The passengers in the taxi then noticed that the same minibus was heading towards Matheran from Hutatma Chowk. They stopped the vehicle and questioned the driver and conductor.

When they were asked why the bus was not taken to the Neral stop and what about the hardship caused to passengers, the driver and conductor are alleged to have given insulting replies to the senior citizens. The passengers had asked, "Who will be responsible if the vehicle meets with an accident?"

The ST corporation runs the minibus service so that tourists and local residents at a tourist destination like Matheran get affordable travel. However, passengers complain that the old minibuses frequently break down on the Matheran ghat. As the vehicle breaks down once or twice a week, passengers have to walk along the ghat. Although the government has bought two minibuses for this route, it is said that only one runs regularly.

Girish Pawar, president of the Matheran Kshatriya Maratha Samaj, expressed strong displeasure over the incident. He has demanded that the government examine videos of the conduct of the driver and conductor concerned and take stern action against those found guilty.