VIJAYAWADA: Private tourist bus operators are sore with the APSRTC for they feel the corporation is eating into their business. Members of the Krishna District Tourist Bus Owners' Association have accused the APSRTC of "flouting norms and causing a huge dent" to their revenue.

"We are the victims of gross bias on the part of the State Government. The quarterly tax imposed on tourist buses is a huge burden. Unable to bear constant losses for the past several years in a row, many of us have sold our vehicles to schools or even as scrap," laments P.S.G.S Prasad, president of the association.

While the vehicles operated as tourist buses are generally used ones, initially they would have 40 seats and eventually, the number of seats would be increased by the operators to 56 and the Government levied a tax of Rs. 1,150 per seat per quarter on each bus in 2001.

However, the association negotiated with the then Government and had it reduced to Rs. 850. But, the association's plea for a further reduction was not conceded by the Telugu Desam Government.

Introduction of additional trains on almost all routes by the Railways has also hit the bus-owners badly, he says. So great is the impact of the RTC's `domination' that the number of private tourist buses in Krishna district has dwindled from 300 to 150 in the last one year. At the State-level, private buses have come down from 1,500 to 600 in the last four years.

Gain for APTDC

"Buses belonging to the fleet of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation stand to gain, as they do not have to pay any tax for two years. Moreover, in clear violation of norms, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism buses storm the RTC bus stations and carry passengers to destinations like Hyderabad. The RTC authorities also have been throwing norms to winds by diverting their services for private marriage functions for contract on long routes, leaving the daily passengers high and dry," he alleges.

Citing deployment of additional services by the RTC to Sabarimalai during Ayyappa Swamy deeksha, Mr. Prasad says it has deprived the private bus owners of the opportunity to make profits during the period. "The RTC deployed over 2,000 buses leaving little scope for us to benefit from the pilgrim rush. In fact, last year, at least 50 private buses could not be operated on the Sabarimalai route, thanks to the operation of numerous services by the RTC," he maintains. He has demanded scrapping of quarterly tax system and its replacement by a day-to-day tax pattern.

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