Take over our business if we are in profit: Bus operators to govt
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JUNE 25
State’s private bus operators have asked the state government to take over their business, if they feel that private bus plying is a profitable business.
The bus operators came out with the said resolution after the transport department in their report to the state government mentioned that 80 percent private buses are in profit and hence there is no need of ticket hike.
“If they feel that we are in profit then we appeal the state government to take over our entire business along with liabilities like loan and employed manpower and run it, which will help them to earn the revenue,” North Goa Bus Owners Association, president Sudesh Calangutkar said.
“Not just 80 percent but make the business 100 percent profitable,” he added.
Calangutkar also said that once taken over, the government can also run these buses on nationalised routes so that they can get assured earnings.
The private bus operators had been demanding for the permit to run their buses on nationalised routes as Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) is been running under loss in these routes.
Calangutkar said that as per the information sought under RTI, only 70 Kadamba buses are running on these routes as against 130 private buses before nationalisation.
Apparently disturbed over Transport Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar’s behaviour, Calangutkar said ‘minister has no knowledge of ground realities.’ “Dhavalikar should be sacked from ministerial post for being insensitive towards us,” he demanded.
He said that minister is not taking the private bus owners into confidence while taking any decisions. The private bus operators have said that the state government should conduct detailed report on their financial situation. Calangutkar said that in-order to keep check on our day-to-day earnings and spending, the government can provide us with special conductors on each route, who will keep detail report of our revenues.
He even said that they are ready to provide all the basic documents, which will include their bank balance sheet, loans and other liabilities to the government.
“We are not able to eke out our living with this business. Rising prices of spare part coupled with additional permits given by transport department is making our lives hell,” Calangutkar said.
“Dhavalikar, in his tenure has given illegal permits to more then 50 buses,” he alleged.
All Goa Private Bus Owners Association (AGPBOA) President Shivdas Kambli said that government is spreading misconception that private buses are in profit in order to avoid giving subsidies to this ailing business.
Kambli said that state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation is fed with subsidies to get it out of loses.
“Despite having dedicated routes, Kadamba are running in loses. How can they expect private buses that are competing with each other to earn profits?” he questioned.
Goa has 1700 private buses catering to various routes.
The private bus operators have scheduled a meeting of all private bus owners on June 27 at T B Cunha Hall, in-order to take further decision on hike in ticket fares.
