Bus operators under lens for norms’ violation
Private bus operators providing air-conditioned facility to passengers on ordinary buses are under the scanner.
Taking cognisance of complaints that big bus operators had installed AC units on their vehicles being run on ordinary bus permits, the State Transport Commissioner has directed the regional transport authorities (RTAs) at Patiala, Jalandhar, Ferozepur and Bathinda to act against such violators.
As per rules, the Transport Department charges road tax at the rate of Rs 2.80 per km for ordinary buses and Rs 15 per km for AC buses. “By installing ACs on ordinary buses, the bus operators evade the government fee. The permits of such operators are also liable to be deleted from the time table,” said officials in the department.
Though such bus operators are providing free AC facility to the passengers, it directly affects the bus operators of the buses being run by the state transport undertaking and the small-stage carriage bus operators.
Meanwhile, acting on civil writ petitions by private bus operators, who have been issued show-cause notices for illegal clubbing of permits, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Transport Department to give personal hearing to the operators.