Against the backdrop of mild resistance from the transporters, the State Government has started acquiring buses from the bus owners to be used for election duty during the upcoming lok Sabha elections.
The Transport Department has started bus acquisition from bus owners in Raipur, Bilaspur and other places. As thousands of buses will be required during the elections, the acquisition has begun almost a month in advance, officials said.
On instructions from the Election Commission, thousands of buses, trucks and jeeps will be acquired from private operators in the State. The process of acquisition has begun at several places in the State and will go full fledged in a week’s time. As the drive began all over the State, statistics as to how many buses were acquired on Friday could not be ascertained.
“The preparations of election are not possible if we do not have adequate means of transport,” said Additional Commissioner (transport) HK Rathore. The bus owners, in a meeting held with the Transport Department on Thursday night, had complained that acquisition of buses right before festivals as it would dampen their business.