CHENNAI: A section of bus operators, attached to the All Omni Bus Owners and Operators Association, submitted a petition to CM C Joseph Vijay on Friday, urging the government to permit the operation of their buses on government routes such as Chennai-Coimbatore and Chennai-Tiruppur.
The petitioners said around 500 buses are affiliated with the association and that its members are willing to operate services at the fares fixed for SETC buses. A Pandiyan, founder of the association, said, “Most of the bus owners associated with us own only six to eight buses and are unable to compete with larger operators,” he said.
Pandiyan added that during the previous DMK regime, operators were required to pay bribes of up to Rs 5 lakh to obtain permits, whereas permits are now issued free of cost. At present, omni buses operate under tourist permits and sleeper buses pay a road tax of Rs 4,500 per berth for every 90-day period. “We are prepared to continue paying the same road tax,” he said. He further pointed out that the TNSTC hires private buses to meet commuters demand and pays owners Rs 54/km. “We want permission to operate on government routes under a model similar to the one being followed in Odisha,” he said.
SETC officials said there are no plans to hire private buses to operate on government routes during festival periods,” an official said.ENS
