Private bus owners remind govt about fare hike
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MAY 22
Seeing no positive response to their 15 days notice over the demand in bus fare hike, the All Goa Private Bus Owners’ Association reminded the Government the ultimatum ends on May 24 and on May 25 it has decided to keep private buses off road.
AGPBOA in a meeting held in the city on May 8 had demanded a hike in bus fares by 0.20 paise, a demand which it maintained was pending for the last one-and-half-month.
The association had observed for the first three kilometres the bus fare was Rs 5 and after this distance for every subsequent kilometre it was 0.45 paise. In view of the rise in diesel prices it had impressed upon the Government that 0.65 paise for every subsequent kilometre after the first three kilometres was justified.
On Saturday, General Secretary AGPBOA Sudip Tamankar, said there was no response to our notice that was served on May 10. The 15 days period of the notice ends on Monday, May 24 and since there is no response from the Government we are going on a token strike the next day, he stated.
Tamankar said after the token strike was over the private bus owners would meet again and decide on the future course of action.
Besides the fare hike, the private bus operators are asking the Government to consider their demand to be included for shuttle services on Mapusa-Panjim route along with buses of Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited.
They have also demanded for allowing them to carry advertisement on their buses as done by KTC vehicles.
