The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) Pune division has urged Pune Police to take strict action against illegal agents operating around bus depots, amid rising safety concerns at state transport (ST) bus stands. A letter regarding the issue was submitted to the police last week.

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According to MSRTC officials, numerous unauthorized agents have been repeatedly seen loitering at major ST bus stands such as Swargate, Shivajinagar, Pune Station, and Vallabhnagar. These individuals allegedly enter the terminals without permission and mislead or divert passengers to earn commission-based profits.

Reason Behind The Strict Action Launched By MSRTC

The safety measures were initiated following the February 26 rape case at the Swargate ST stand, where a woman was allegedly assaulted in the early morning hours. The incident highlighted serious security lapses and sparked widespread outrage across Maharashtra. In response, MSRTC launched urgent safety reforms, including the installation of AI-powered surveillance cameras. Despite these efforts, the continued presence of unauthorised individuals around bus terminals remains a major obstacle to creating a secure public transport environment.

“Our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers using MSRTC services. Unfortunately, the menace of unauthorized agents inside and around ST stands is not new, but after the recent incident at Swargate, the matter has become critical. These agents not only harass passengers but sometimes create confusion that leads to chaos or mismanagement. We’ve formally asked the Pune police to increase patrolling and take legal action against these individuals. Security cannot be compromised any longer,” An MSRTC senior official, requesting anonymity, said, according to the HT report.

Entry Pass For Transport Staff At ST Premises

As part of its enhanced safety drive, MSRTC is also exploring the possibility of introducing entry passes for transport staff and implementing measures to regulate the movement of non-passengers within ST premises.

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According to the HT report, Suneeta Kamble, a regular passenger, said, “These agents are always hovering around the platforms, trying to convince passengers to take private vehicles or change routes. It’s very intimidating, especially for women. I think strict action is long overdue. MSRTC and the police need to work together to clear them out of the stands.”