Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jul 9: "The private bus operators are facing dark days after the Covid induced lockdown. Their main demand is to waive off tax for six months for the period between July to December of this year. Let the government give us a chance to live, not to die. The state government does not have the public's interest in mind. From May to June, private buses remained off the roads. The private transportation sector suffered a loss of Rs 400 crore due to the lockdown. While government transport is thriving, private is barely able to stay afloat. If the situation continues to be this way, the private transportation system will collapse," said Kuilady Suresh Nayak, the new president of the Federation of Bus Operators Association of Karnataka.

Speaking at the press meet held at Hotel Sharada International on Thursday, July 9, Nayak said, "The federation includes have unions of 20 districts. Corporations have sought Rs 2,380 crore to pay salaries of the RTC employees, but private buses did not get anything, though we are under government administration."

"Private bus owners could not get their buses released that they had surrendered with the RTO. These bus owners need Rs 1 lac to fix their buses. The government needs to provide help on this end," Nayak added.

"We want a solution for our problems. Let the government reach out to us when they want to discuss the matter. If private buses start functioning, the government will benefit. The crude oil price is increasing on a daily basis and the private transportation sector is suffering. The government should restore the stage carriage buses," he said.

Linga Reddy, executive president, KK Balakrishna, general secretary, Vikram, secretary, Lakshmi Narayan, Jayaprakash Shenoy, honourary advisor, Kumar, joint secretary, Dilraj Alva, treasurer, Sadanand Chathra, vice president and others were present.