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Temporary permit for private bus operators in Puducherry likely

PUDUCHERRY: In a bid to enhance bus connectivity in Puducherry, the Transport Department plans to issue temporary permits to private bus operators, who will be operating services in areas not covered by local buses.

As a step in this direction, the department has called for applications and will soon place them before the State Transport Authority (STA) for issuing temporary permits. The STA would decide on issuance of permits to the private bus operators, said officials.

“The plan was announced in the Assembly. The temporary permits will be for six months or one year. There are 35 to 40 routes that are not covered by local buses. We will be placing the applications to the STA very soon for issuing the permits,” Transport Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan said.

However, the decision of issuing permanent permits to the private operators would be discussed with the Chief Minister, he said. “This will take some time and the Cabinet will decide on granting permanent permits to the bus operators. As of now, issuing temporary permits will solve all bus problems in Puducherry,” he said. Mr. Shahjahan said the Re.one bus fare for school students in government buses would continue.

However, private bus operators raise doubts about the success of the scheme and prefer additional trips for existing buses rather introducing new routes.

At present, there are 100 private buses and 15 to 20 government buses plying in intra-State routes connecting Puducherry to rural areas such as Bahour, Madagadipet, Thirukannur, Kannikoil and Kalapet, president of Pondicherry Bus Owner’s Association B. Kannan said.

“The government’s plan to issue temporary permits to the private bus owners will not be a successful scheme as the collection will be less in these specified routes as the starting points are mostly in rural areas.

“Many of the operators have not applied for permits. There is crowd only during the rush hours on a few routes and increasing the services will lead to loss,” he said. In fact, private buses were earning around Rs. 6,000 a day, of which 60 per cent goes for diesel, maintenance and labour charges, he said.

“Instead, the government can permit additional trips for the existing buses. We also want the government to increase the bus fare from the present minimum charges of Rs. 2.50 to Rs. 3 for 10 km and five paise for every one km,” he said.

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