Govt allows renewal of small bus permits

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 10

For the first time in the tenure of the present Congress government in the state, the State Transport Commission has allowed the renewal of nearly 3,200 permits of small buses.

The move has kicked up a controversy with the transport operators’ union alleging the renewal was in violation of various court orders. It also claimed that it was aimed to help the powerful lobby of transporters. The union also alleged that only the influential among the 3,200 permit-holders would be able to get the authorisation renewed.

The permits are of the minibus routes. The Minibus Service Scheme was declared null and void by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2012. In its poll manifesto, the Congress had vowed to bring a new transport policy and promised issuance of permits to small and large buses afresh.

The new transport policy was announced in February, 2018, but it is yet to be notified as some high-profile private transporters have moved a court against it. The buses are practically plying as per the permits and timetable set during the previous SAD-BJP regime.

According to the order issued on September 24, the State Transport Commission (STC) has asked all Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) to allow renewal of the bus permits issued between 2001 and 2008. The order said the permits did not come under the purview of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directions.

The order was issued by Transport Commissioner Dilraj Singh Sandhawalia. He said he had cleared the files as per the rules and following all court orders.