In addition to ferrying scores of people, they often act as conduits in a bustling country liquor racket in the region. Scores of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation buses plying between the city and Khajod, Budhiav, Gabheni, Lawachha, Pinjrat and Olpad, allegedly bring in not only passengers, but country liquor, on which the economy of these coastal villages hinge.
Some personnel allegedly share the spoils, but most look the other way.
While prohibition has had little impact on bootleggers, the constitution of a separate enforcement agency has theoretically split the spoils and encouraged back-stabbing between the police and prohibition squad. The STKU agrees that the formation of a separate force has set the prohibition personnel against the police. The union has given the police department 10 days to station personnel in the branded coastal villages. The State government can perhaps take solace from the fact that buses are not thebootleggers' favoured means of transport. A railway official admits that liquor is transported in large quantity via trains, but passes the buck to the railway police.