Panaji: The Bus Operators today held day long dharna in front of Transport Department office in Panaji reiterating their various demands, including amending the recently induced bus fair hike.
Union Leader Sudip Tamankar told reporters that they have been following up their issues for last 18 months but have failed to evoke a proper response from the State government, specially Transport Department.
He said in the run up for 2017 Assembly Election, BJP leader Manohar Parrikar had held meeting of bus operators with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during which it was agreed to fulfill all the demands.
“But since the time, the BJP led government has come to power, the demands are kept on the backburner,” he said.
Tamankar said that if the demands are not met within this weekend, the Bus Operators will hold week long half day dharna in front of Transport Department office from coming week.
Listing out the demands, Tamankar said that the Bus operators have been insisting to install clocks at various bus stands so as to weed out irregularities and mess created on departure timings.
They have also demanded that the recently introduced bus fare hike should be amended in a way that it should benefit every bus operator.
He also claimed that the payment under fuel subsidy and insurance scheme to be given by government has stopped due to which the EMIs in different banks have become overdue.
The banking institutions have began issuing notices to the bus operators.
“The way mining dependent people are on the streets, the government is also bringing down taxi and bus operators on the roads,” he said.
Giving one week time and if they fail for next entire week we will hold half day long dharna in front of transport office.
