Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 20: The state government has extended concession in road tax for private bus operators. But bus owners from Karnataka coast are unhappy. They say that the concession does not benefit them.

City Bus Owners Association president Dilraj Alva noted that buses are off the roads since the last two months and most of the owners have surrendered their buses to the Regional Transport Office (RTO). "They naturally are eligible for road tax concession. The government's initiative does not benefit them," he clarified. 

President of the state bus owners union Rajavara Ballal pointed out that currently, the bus owners have no sources of income and therefore demanded exemption from paying road tax for a period of next six months. He also observed that when reducing the number of passengers by 50 per cent to maintain social distance, enhancement of bus fare is bound to happen.

The bus owners held a meeting with the regional transport officer on Tuesday at the transport department here and submitted their demands. Some of the bus owners expressed the opinion that the buses may not begin to operate before the end of this month.

Udupi private buses agree to ply on roads:

Canara Bus Operators Association vice president Sadananda Chatra noted that the state government has responded to demands of private bus owners and announced two months tax concession. He said that a decision on operating the buses, as usual, will be taken on Wednesday.

The private bus operators had placed a number of demands out of which the government has waived the road tax for the months of April and May. From Wednesday onward, some buses are expected to run to destinations like Bengaluru and Mysuru. A decision might also emerge about operating express, city, and service buses today.