Private bus owners are demanding resumption of private buses from the State Government for the survival of their business.
As the Government allowed auto rickshaws to run with some restrictions and passenger trains and aeroplane services are going on, similarly they are urging the Government to allow the private buses with restrictions.
Ranchi Bus Owners Association General Secretary and Federation of Jharkhand Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FJCCI) Vice president, Kishore Mantri said that the State Government has given permission to various business activities like apparel shops, small and medium industries, shoe shops and others to run their business similarly the Government should also allow private bus services to run their buses with 50 per cent occupancy.
“Neighbouring States like Bihar, West Bengal permitted private buses to run on roads with some restrictions. The Odisha Government also allowed buses from July 1. We are saying that the livelihood of around 2 lakh persons directly or indirectly are affected with not running the buses. From garage owners to agents and other shopkeepers who have installed their shops in bus stands all of them are badly affected with the not running of the buses. For the betterment of the many people the Government should give permission to run private buses,” said Mantri.
Jharkhand Pradesh Bus Owners Association has demanded the government to waive the road tax for the lockdown period.
The association has written a letter to the Transport Secretary in this regard. It has been said that for the prevention of Coronavirus, the tax should be waived by the government for the period of ban on the operation of buses under the Health Protection Week.
It has been told through the letter that due to the restricted operation of buses, the financial condition of the bus owners has become very pathetic. At the same time, last year also buses did not operate for a long period. In such a situation, due to the continuous lockdown, the bus business has been badly affected.
State president of the association Sachchidanand Singh said that in the first wave of Corona, it was announced to waive off the tax for the lockdown period, but its full compliance has not been done yet.
In such a situation, the economic condition of the bus owners has become weak and they are unable to pay the tax. The Government should seriously consider this.