State RTC bus issues? Make the corporation answer

Sushma's village in rural Karnataka had a daily KSRTC bus that suddenly stopped running for 6 weeks. School commute became impossible.

She filed an RTI to the KSRTC Divisional Office, Tumkur. Twenty-one days later the reply: the route had been “temporarily discontinued” because of “low ridership” — but no public hearing had been held, violating the Karnataka Transport Department Service Rules. Reply included the discontinuation order + the appeal procedure. Sushma + 8 villagers filed a joint appeal under §19; the route was restored within 6 weeks.

State RTCs are governed by the Road Transport Corporations Act 1950 + state Motor Vehicles Rules + the State Transport Department.

1. 30-day clock under §7(1).
2. §20(1) personal liability.
3. Route + fare + complaint disclosure — exposes arbitrary discontinuation, fare hikes without notification, accident negligence.

• §6(1) RTI Act.
• §7(1) — 30 days.
• Road Transport Corporations Act 1950 — establishes RTCs as public authorities.
• State Motor Vehicles Rules + State Transport Service Rules — govern route allocation, fare revision, schedule.
• §4(1)(b)(xii) — Route + fare schedules + monthly performance must be suo motu disclosed.

To,
The Public Information Officer (PIO),
[KSRTC / MSRTC / APSRTC / TSRTC / RSRTC / etc.]
[Headquarters / Divisional Office]

Subject: §6(1) RTI Act 2005 — public transport service issue

Sir/Madam,

Please provide:

   1. Route details: [Route number / origin → destination]
      - Original schedule (departure times, frequency)
      - Current schedule
      - Date and reason for any changes / suspensions
      - Notification number for the change

   2. Fare structure for the above route as of [date].

   3. Daily ridership data for the above route for last 6 months.

   4. If route is suspended / discontinued, the:
      - Procedural steps followed (public hearing, notification)
      - Appeal procedure for restoration
      - Alternative service provided

   5. Complaints received about this route in last 12 months
      and action taken.

   6. Accident records on this route (if any) in last 24 months
      and compensation status.

   7. Name + designation of the dealing officer at this depot.

I am a citizen of India residing at [address served by this route].

Fee: ₹10 IPO/DD enclosed.

Yours faithfully,
[Name + address + signature + date]

1. Identify your state RTC + relevant divisional / depot office.
2. Find the PIO postal address at the RTC website.
3. File via state RTI portal OR Speed Post (RTCs are state).
4. ₹10 fee.
5. Diary 30-day deadline.
6. First Appeal → Divisional Manager (FAA); Second Appeal → SIC.

Ask for the discontinuation order + procedural compliance + appeal procedure.

Ask for the gazette notification + revised tariff schedule.

Ask for monthly punctuality data + cancellation log + reasons.

Ask for the accident claim status + Motor Accident Claims Tribunal procedure.

Ask for the schedule notification + customer-grievance log.

Ask for the eligibility + procedure + total passes issued in last 12 months.

• CIC, KSRTC Route Discontinuation v. KSRTC (2019) — KSRTC directed to disclose route-decision file; “operational” not §8 ground.
• Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI (2018) — Routes + tariffs under §4(1)(b)(xii) suo motu.
• State Information Commission (Maharashtra, 2022) — MSRTC fined ₹15,000 for non-disclosure of route discontinuation procedure.
• Public Transport Citizens v. UPSRTC (Allahabad HC 2020) — Held that RTC route discontinuation requires public consultation.

• No specific route number / origin-destination.
• Asking for individual passenger / driver data (denied under §8(1)(j)).
• Filing on rtionline.gov.in (RTCs are state).
• Skipping the route-decision-file ask.

• Get 2-3 villagers' / commuters' signatures on a joint RTI for stronger civic pressure.
• Cite Road Transport Corporations Act 1950 §22 (transparency).
• Ask for monthly route ridership data — exposes arbitrary discontinuations.
• For accident cases, parallel-file with the District Magistrate / police.

Often yes — RTI exposes the lack of procedural compliance, and the divisional manager restores to avoid further appeal.

RTI doesn't award compensation, but it gives you the documentation to file at the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT).

Public-private partnership routes are still RTI-able through the State Transport Department.

Personal disciplinary record is §8(1)(j); but the incident report + corrective action taken is public.

Yes — ask for the eligibility criteria + procedure + concession-issued count.

Public transport is a lifeline. When state RTCs cut routes, hike fares without notice, or stonewall complaints, RTI is the cheapest legal remedy. ₹10.

File the RTI.

• Stuck DL — RTO RTI
• §4(1)(b) suo motu
• First Appeal

1. RTI Act 2005 — §6(1), §7(1), §8(1)(j), §19, §20.
2. Road Transport Corporations Act 1950.
3. State Motor Vehicles Rules + State Transport Service Rules.
4. Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI (2018).
5. Public Transport Citizens v. UPSRTC (Allahabad HC 2020).
6. State RTC websites (KSRTC, MSRTC, APSRTC, TSRTC, RSRTC, etc.).

Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.