COIMBATORE: Minister for Transport and Agriculture K N Nehru on Monday said the State government would not grant permit to private companies to operate bus services between Ooty and Coimbatore and also within the Nilgiris district.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the new regional transport office and flagging off 100 new buses here, the minister said that it was a policy decision of the government not to permit private parties to operate buses in the hill station despite the government- owned buses making heavy losses. The government would grant adequate funds to compensate the losses, he said.
On problem of timing for operating services between private and government bus drivers, Nehru said that he would ask the district Collectors to sort out the problem.
On the seizure of government buses in connection with the accident insurance cases, he said the govern ment was ready to provide a fair compensation. In response to a query, the minister said that students possessing free bus pass could travel in all the government buses operated within their regions.
TWO-WHEELERS MAIN CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS: The two-wheelers are the main reason for the increase in accidents in the State, as many of them do not possess driving licence and do not follow the traffic rules, said K N Nehru, Transport Minister while inaugurating a new Regional Transport Office and flagging off 100 new buses in the city.