Private bus drivers, operators protest for fare hike continues
| Date :06-Jul-2020 |
Bus drivers staging protest at Berasiya.
Staff Reporter :
Private bus operators continued their demonstration for tax relaxation and fare hike on Sunday. Apart from bus operators, now drivers are also demanding wages during COVID-19. Bhopal Bus Drivers Association staged protest at Bersaiya Road where bus operators from Raisen Vidisha, Bhopal, Khandwa, Sehore, Obedullaganj, Hoshangabad and other districts were gathered. The association President Saiyeed Salim said “Neither bus owner nor Government is not listening our demands.
We are not getting wages and business is totally stopped. Government should give us some relaxation so that we can run our livelihood.” Bus operators too said that they are not getting any kind of relaxation from Government and their buses are parking at stands. They are demanding to increase the fare by 40 to 55 per cent with tax relaxation. Bus services were paralysed from city roads during nationwide lock down. Bus operators said that they have not earned a single penny for three months and in such condition they are unable to pay the tax.
They demanded Government to make them free from tax for three months. Operators said that they would start services until Government allows increasing the fare. Bus Association Secretary Lakha Singh said, “Fare of diesel has been increased by 26 percent as compare ot March. We already demanded to give three month tax relaxation but Government did not allow. Other states have given such relaxation. We cannot survive here without fare hike as we have to follow social distancing inside the bus too.”