Govt to go ahead with uni-colour plan for buses

Govt to go ahead with uni-colour plan for buses
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JAN 8
Notwithstanding the opposition, the state government has decided to go ahead with plans for uni-colour to all private buses in the state.
State Transport Minister Ramkrishna Dhawalikar told Herald that the government is firm on its decision to have similar colour to all buses in the state.
“The points raised by the private bus operators are meaningless…they are afraid that their irregularities would be opened up,” Dhawalikar said adding that the concept of having uni-colour to all private buses will help in curbing up the increasing irregularities of the bus operators.
“I receive several calls from the villagers who often complaints about non availability of bus on Sunday’s. These private buses which ply in most of the rural areas use their buses for picnics and other functions on weekends or on working days too making public to suffer,” he said.
The government as part of streamlining private bus service in the state had offered that all the private buses with All Goa Permits should have common colour.
The proposal which was forwarded by the transport minister has been unanimously objected by the private bus operators.
In their written objection to the government, the operators have claimed that passengers identify the buses based on their colours.
“It’s a childish excuse….the literacy rate here is around 81 percent…people can very well read the name plates,” minister said.
Dhawalikar today cleared that maximum Rs 15,000 per bus will be paid to the bus operators as subsidy to paint it.
“They are free to colour their buses at any garage…we will give them money and colour will be of our choice,” he added.