Chandigarh, July 11: Thousands of mini bus operators, truckers and private transporters in Punjab are up in arms against the new transport policy, which provides for opening the sector to new entrants.
The operators are protesting against the provision of allowing a draw of lots for a specific route permit every five years, in case there is more than one applicant.
They fear the move will spell disaster for private transport.Last week, the state government had cancelled 5,432 buses availing extension/diversion of routes and another 6,700 mini buses. Once the term of these permits is over, the government has decided to issue the permits afresh. Some transporters, including those who have been in the business for 50 years, say that they could lose their permits to new players.“We have invested hundreds of crores in the buses. Should we just park our buses and let them rust?” they asked.Pirthi Singh of Jalal Bus Service, Bathinda, accused the Congress government of succumbing to pressure from within the party to crack the whip on Akalis in the transport business. He said while the politicians would lose just 200-odd permits, small transporters like him would lose their livelihood.“The small transporters have 12,000 permits (less than 20 each). The Badals will lose just 28 permits of the super integral coaches. We intend to meet the CM this week and urge him to cancel only those permits where illegal extensions were granted after 2011. We are willing to surrender these ourselves,” he said.Jasbinder Singh Grewal, chief, Mini Bus Operators’ Association, said the mini bus operators were crucial to providing rural connectivity. “By cancelling our licences, and including a clause that licences will be renewed every five years based on a draw of lots, the government is blocking the transport sector in rural areas.”
News Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com
