The Directorate of Transport has notified ‘Goa State Fuel Subsidy to Private Stage Carriage Operators, 2014’ scheme for disbursement of fuel subsidy due to their inability to participate in the passenger pass system, on the lines of Kadamba Transport Corporation on account of technical difficulties. The scheme will be valid for three years.
“This scheme provides for socio-economic support to entrepreneurs in the trade of operation of stage carriage on intra-State routes. The scheme covers the owners of private buses/minibuses operating on intra-State routes as “stage carriage” as well as those intending to enter the trade for the first time,” the notification issued by Director Transport Arun Desai reads.
“The beneficiary under this scheme shall not be entitled for benefits under any other scheme of the Central and State Governments. Also, no increase in road fare will be granted in the current financial year,” it adds.
The operator is entitled for the benefit provided the vehicle is operating for more than 27 days a month and in case buses are kept off the road for repairs or maintenance for more than two days, prior intimation has to be given to the licensing authority.
The applications would be screened and approved by a committee chaired by the Director of Transport. The amount would be disbursed to the bank accounts of operators.
The private bus owners in the State had complained over the huge losses they faced as a result of pass system introduced by KTC. The operators had demanded that government should either provide them subsidy or allow them to introduce the pass system.
