Traffic police nabbed drivers of 13 vehicles (6 micro and seven minibuses) for over charging fairs to pilgrims heading to Godavari Mela that is celebrated every 12 years on Saturday. They will be charged up to Rs 5,000.

Traffic police began the inspection after several complaints of visitors. It is learnt that passengers were compelled to pay up to Rs100 for travelling from Satdobato to Godavari, an 8.7 km road section that costs Rs 27.

“Now onwards we are strictly monitoring each public vehicle running on the route,” said Sitaram Hachhethu, chief of Lalitpur Traffic, who is assigned to look after the traffic of the route during the gala. At present 50 traffic police have been deployed in the area, while 16 traffic police—10 in uniform and six with civil dress—are deployed between Satdobato and Godavari to monitor exuberant charges.

According to vehicles and Transport Management Act 1993, the owner of the vehicle has to pay Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 in case of overcharging.

 “We came to know that pilgrims coming from the outer part of the city are victimised by vehicles staffs, as they do not know the actual bus fare,” said Hachhethu.  The fair organising committee said over 100,000 people visited the gala on Saturday and expect 5 million people in a month.