‘Need Full Cooperation from Commuters when Bus Service Resumes on 1 June’- said Dakshina Kannada Bus Operators Association (DKBOA ) President Dilraj Alva, during interaction with Team Mangalorean
Mangaluru: Shut for over two months due to the coronavirus lockdown, thousands of religious worship in Karnataka may be allowed to reopen from June 1, keeping social distancing and other norms in place. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that he will only allow churches, mosques and temples to reopen in the state from June 1. It may be noted that the fourth phase of the lockdown ends on 31 May. It is learnt that even restaurants and hotels may open, and also City and Service Bus will start operating, on 1 June from 7 am till 7 pm.
Ever since the city and service buses had ceased their services due to lockdown, since March 2020, it has resulted in hardship and inconveniences to many commuters, including office goers, students and others. And with only a few auto-rickshaws plying on the road, and who have been charging exorbitant fares, has even made the life of the common people hard. Not only the commuters are facing the brunt of this lockdown, where bus transportation has been stopped, it is the bus owners who have also been facing the brunt, incurring heavy loses due to non-income since nearly two months.
Dilraj Alva-the President of Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners Association speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “This morning we had a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Ms Sindhu Roopesh and other authorities, and since the commuters are facing lots of inconveniences to do their errands and other engagements, we have agreed to operate 50% of our buses from 1 June. Only 30 passengers will be allowed to board the bus. Nearly 150 city and 150 service buses will start operating. Prior to the start of bus service, all buses will be sanitized as per the govt guidelines. There could be slight increase in the fare, which will be finalized on Thursday after meeting the concerned authorities. Since we can’t carry more than 30 passengers due to social distancing, commuters should cooperate with us, and also follow the Covid-19 guidelines”
“Even though two weeks ago, our association members had met the DC and put forth our two main demands, of which, one is allow us to increase the bus fare, since we will be transporting half the passengers capacity in the bus, due to social distancing; and our second demand is that the government should exempt from paying Road Tax for six months; and later if the lockdown still continues, and if bus service continues, they should give us 50% reduction in road tax, but until today, there has been NO positive action from DC and other authorities. But even though our demands are not met before 31 May, we will still run the bus service as a gesture towards the commuters” added Alva.
He further said, “Every three months as Road Tax, we pay, Rs 26,000 for city urban buses; Rs 36,000 for Rural bus; Rs 56,000 for Express Buses; and Rs 82,000 for Contract Carriage buses, which is a lot of money, when there is no proper income. We are hoping that the DC and the concerned authorities will accept our demands, and do the needful, which would benefit the bus owners and our staff. If the citizens/commuters cooperate with us, then we can operate the bus service without any hassles and violations. We are hoping for the best once the bus service resumes”.
In conclusion, in my perspective, why can’t the govt wave the road tax for few months, since the bus owners are in financial crunch. If the Union Finance Minister can boast about her Rs 20 lack crore package, exempting the road tax for a while will just be peanuts for the government. It’s the need of the hour that the Government and the Bus Owners Association should come to a consensus for the benefit of the people.
