from Sanjay Borkar
for Daijiworld Media Network - Margao (GA)

Margao, Jun 16: Following the fuel price hike last week, as expected The Goa Bus Owners' Association (GBOA) has demanded a 25% hike in bus ticket fares or to give subsidy for diesel.

They have also demanded to declare the bus service as an industry so they can avail the facilities. It has been one of their long-pending demands.

GBOA had convened the meeting of the executive committee of the association at Margao on Sunday June 12.

GBOA president Rajnikant Naik told reporters that they are hopeful that government will pay attention to their demands.

According to them, if bus service is declared an industry, then, they would get all the facilities under Industry Act. Thus they will survive in their business.

In next two days they will approach chief minister Digamber Kamat and will place their demand with him.

To keep a watch on rising prices of the bus-related tools and tyres, committee was established which was also supposed to propose the hike in ticket fare.  But the said committee is not acting, alleged members of GBOA.

They have also demanded that this committee should be made active, henceforth.