the goan I network
MARGAO
Private bus operators from South Goa have made it clear that running buses with 50 per cent capacity is economically unviable, but said they would wait for the government to come out with a package in the form of taking their vehicles on hire for some time to bring their vehicles on the road.
The issue is likely to be resolved on Monday as the private bus operators are expected to have a meeting with a Minister and will then go in a huddle how to go about as the government will be opening public transport from Monday with 50 per cent capacity.
President of Goa Route Bus Owners AssociationPresident Manuel Rodrigues told The Goan on Sunday that the 50 per cent capacity norm will not help the private operators to bring their buses on the roads from Monday. “It is economically not viable to run buses with 50 per cent capacity. Hence, we will not be in a position to operate our buses from tomorrow”, he added.
Manuel, however, said the private bus operator may consider if any proposal comes from the government to give their vehicles on hire to the KTC upon payment kilometer wise. “This proposal is at a preliminary stage as of now. But, if the government wants to take our buses on hire with a fixed payment kilometer wise, the private bus operators may deliberate and consider such a proposal’, he added.
He, however, hastened to add that no formal proposal from the KTC or from the government has come to the private bus operators till date, adding that the situation will be clear only on Monday after a meeting with the concerned Ministers.
When asked to shed light on the stand adopted by the owners of city buses, plying from Margao to the housing boards and neighbouring villages, Manuel said a meeting with the city bus operators will also be held on Monday to discuss how to go about the matter.
