Pvt bus owners reiterate demand for release of pending ‘subsidy dues’

Ponda: Troubled by the losses incurred in plying  the buses with 50 per cent passenger capacity on account of COVID-19 pandemic, the private bus owners have reiterated their demand for the release of dues towards fuel subsidy, subsidy on insurance premium and subsidy for the replacement of old buses, which are pending for the past many years.

The bus owners urged the government to fulfil its assurance as early as possible, and claimed that their business is becoming ‘unmanageable’ without the government support.

The bus owners under the banner of the Goa State Private Bus Owners Association (GSPBOA) held a press conference at Ponda and put forth their demands. 

The association president Siddesh Adpaikar, vice president Janu Naik, members Nitin Gobre, Gajendra Tadadikar and Tanay Naik were present for the press briefing. 

GSPBOA members said that “few bus owners are urging the government for the cancellation of KTCL’s pass system, instead of asking for release of the pending dues, but the majority of the bus owners are in need of the government subsidy due to the prevailing situation.  Bus owners across the state are seeking the government subsidy schemes.”

The GSPBOA claimed that it has around 700 members, having around 1200 buses running on various routes across the state, and all these members are demanding for the release of the pending dues.

The association also demanded that “the government should reschedule the bus operations in the entire state owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bus owners have formed groups of buses on various routes by introducing new timings so that all buses get proper number of passengers. But these timings are not properly followed and for that government intervention is needed. The transport department should smoothen the bus service for the benefit of the public.”

Adpaikar said that “operating buses with just 50 per cent passenger capacity is not viable and bus operators are suffering losses. Secondly, the people are not supporting the bus operators in adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines. In midst of it, the state government too has not fulfilled the assurance given to the bus operators during the strike called by bus operators in last month. The  government had assured the bus owners of releasing the dues related to fuel subsidy, subsidy on insurance premium and  replacement of old buses, which are pending for the past many years.”

As per the information, in 2014, the government had introduced the subsidy schemes for private bus owners in state. And, from 2014 to 2016, bus owners received the benefits, but since 2017, no payments have been made under these schemes.