Private bus transporters seek reduction in seating capacity

Facing losses ever since the Himachal Pradesh Roadways Corporation (HRTC) introduced 50 per cent rebate in bus fare to the women, the private transporters are demanding reduction in their seating capacity.

Since taxes paid by the transporters are directly proportional to the seating capacity of a bus, reduction in the number of seats will reduce the taxes and make private buses viable. Since a family prefers to travel together, the lure of concessional fare in the HRTC buses has sizably reduced the number of passengers in the private buses.

A private transporter has to pay Rs 500 per seat as token tax on a quarterly basis, besides special road tax on a monthly basis which is based on the permit granted for a national highway, state highway or link road.

In a representation to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister who also holds the portfolio of transport as well as Commissioner Transport, the Himachal Private Bus Operators Union (HPBOU) has requested them to consider their demand as the plying of buses was no longer viable. The union has requested them to ponder upon this key issue at the meeting of the regional transport authority to provide succour to the transporters.

“Though this demand has been aired for the past four years, neither the previous BJP government nor the present Congress government has accepted it, as the officials fear losses to the state exchequer,” said Raghuvindra Singh, president, HPBOU.

“Since there were ample buses running on various routes, the reduction in the seating capacity will not create problems for the passengers. The operators are demanding reduction in the capacity as per the viability on their routes,” Singh added.

There are about 3,200 private buses across the state, with Solan alone having about 220.

Illustrating his point he stated that a 42-seater bus incurs a daily loss of Rs 2,000-Rs 2,500 as the quantum of passengers has sizeably reduced after this concession in fare was made available to the women. It sharply hits the buses plying on longer routes and those having larger seating capacity are specifically incurring losses.

He said even the proposition of selling the large buses and buying smaller buses was not viable as one had to spent lakhs, given the increase in the cost.

The union has also stated that if buses are found overloaded, these should be challaned. The union contends that though a private vehicle owner pays one-time tax for 15 years, they pay taxes every month and yet their genuine demand was not considered compassionately.

Though the special road tax is supposed to be utilised to maintain the roads, this was far from reality and the condition of the roads, especially those maintained by the state, are worsening with each passing day with

little maintenance.

The union also contends that while the HRTC receives financial aid from the state government on a monthly basis to meet its expenses, this freebie should be done away with as it has barely been reduced to a political ploy.