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According to the State Transport Secretary, Sumantra Chowdhuri, the state government decided to send the showcause notice to 2,000 bus operators for abstaining from replacing their vehicles. After the 15-day showcause period, their permits may be suspended. Since August 1, more than 3,000 buses were taken off the road. With the transport system going haywire, the government then decided to procure 1,300 new buses under the JNNURM.
Sources in the state transport department said that even though the October 31 deadline has expired, the department has not yet decided on their future course of action.
“It is the prerogative of the operator to decide whether they want to give up on their vehicle or not. Majority have not applied since the main case against the ban on 15-year-old commercial vehicles is still pending in the High Court,” said Swarnakomal Saha, general secretary, Bengal Bus Syndicate, one of the largest private bus operators in the city.
“We have not yet received the notice. But once we do, we will take legal help and proceed,” said Swarnakomal Saha, general secretary, Bengal Bus Syndicate, one of the largest private bus operators in the city.
According to the records, approximately 1,200 mini buses and 4,000 buses are yet to apply for the replacement. According to the officials of the state transport department, under Section 86 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the government could cancel the permits of the buses which are not plying despite possessing the permits. “The state cannot force us to apply. They should be sympathetic towards us. Many are still unwilling to replace old buses because of loan and ownership factor,” said Sadhan Das, general secretary of Joint Council of Bus Syndicate.
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