OLD GOA
Stating that the Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has assured to allow over 15-year-old diesel buses to run on road if they convert to CNG, All Goa Private Bus Owners Association (AGPBOA) General Secretary Sudip Tamankar informed that around owners of 600 bus owners will benefit from the same.
“The assurance was given when a delegation of AGPBOA met the Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari at Nagpur on November 12,” Tamankar informed while addressing a media conference on Saturday.
“The Motor Vehicle Act bill has already been passed and very soon a notification will be issued wherein 15-year-old diesel buses will not be allowed to run on road. So if these buses are converted to CNG, Gadkari has assured us that these will be allowed to operate till the RTO grants fitness certificate,” he stated.
“This relaxation will be provided to the bus owners and Gadkari has informed that he has already started the process,” Tamankar informed and thanked the minister for thinking about the betterment of small-time bus operators like them.
To a question by The Goan, Tamankar said there are a total of 1,460 buses in the State, out of which 600 buses are over 15 years old.
“So, under this scheme, the owners of these 600 buses will benefit if they convert to CNG. However, the buses which have not completed 15 years can also convert to CNG as they also stand to benefit,” he added.
“We spend around Rs 1 lakh per month on diesel but if we convert to CNG the price comes down to Rs 60,000, which means a saving of Rs 40,000 per month,” Tamankar stated. “We have also been given many options like using gas from the Saligao waste plant which will bring the cost down even further,” he informed.
He said if diesel is brought under GST, the price which has now touched around Rs 100 will come down to Rs 50-60.
Tamhankar said that in the future there could be a shortage of diesel and hence it is important to look at other options like CNG, electric, etc.
AGPBOA executive members Pratap Bhonsle, Shashikant Gaude, Shrikant Chari and Nitin Satardekar along with several bus operators were present.
Centre listening, but State govt is not paying any heed to us: Tamankar
OLD GOA: AGPBOA general secretary Sudip Tamankar has requested the chief minister to resolve their pending issues at the earliest. Tamankar said on one side there are central ministers like Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who help small-time bus operators like them and on the other hand, the State government does not even listen to them.
“There are many issues pending with the government like subsidy, waiving off penalty on passenger tax, insurance, etc. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should resolve all our issues,” Tamhankar demanded.
Meanwhile, Tamankar also expressed happiness that PM Narendra Modi has decided to repeal the three farm laws.
