While auto-rickshaw drivers often take advantage of their unchallenged position in the heart of the city, private bus operators are virtually running a parallel transport service in the suburbs without the permission of the authorities.

Alarmed at the possibilities, the Vadodara Autorickshaw Chalak Congress is demanding a complete ban on the operation of luxury buses within VMC limits. ``We do not oppose companies like IPCL and GSFC contracting these buses to ferry their employees to and fro at fixed hours'', said VACC's Yusuf Ganchi. ``We are against these buses plying regularly with passengers''.

Balkishan of private bus operator Guru Travels, however, disagreed that such was the case. ``Private buses operate on long-distance routes only. Anyway, people are not going to hire autos for long-distance travel, like between Sursagar to Gorwa or Tarsali. Hence the fear of auto-drivers is unfounded''.

A number of private-bus commuters agreed with Balkishan. ``Auto-drivers don't lose anything because I don't hire a rickshaw. I benefit because I can travel on a private bus from Sursagar to Gorwa for Rs 3'', said Sharad, a regular bus passenger.

Kamleben Gadhvi of Gorwa said she preferred private buses since the ST service were inadequate at best. ``Even if share-rickshaws were available, it would cost much more than the Rs 3 I have to pay as private bus-fare and be much more uncomfortable'', she said.

Analysing the issue, Assistant Commissioner of Police M K Tandon admitted that public transport simply hadn't kept pace with the growth of the city. ``A fleet of 154 buses is not adequate for a city the size of Vadodara'', agreed Assistant Transport Superintendent of State Transport Jagdishbhai Kathia, adding that the frequency of services also left a lot to be desired.

``The government must consider (formally) introducing private bus operators within the municipal limits'', said Tandon. ``Though it won't solve the problem, it'll be in people's interests''.

He opined that private buses could be permitted to ply from Nyay Mandir and Railway Station to the areas on the outskirts of the city, while auto-rickshaws continued to run within the main city.

While claiming to be ignorant about the plying of unauthorised buses within the VMC area, Assistant Commissioner of Police A R Munshi said that one fallout of the inadequate transport system was the tremendous rise in the number of private vehicles.

When asked if the VMC planned to introduce city bus services, Deputy Municipal Commissioner I B Peerzada said there was no such plan.