Private operators oppose notification that favours KSRTC

The draft notification has received nearly 700 objections

The draft notification on the Comprehensive Area Scheme has received nearly 700 objections and suggestions from State Transport Undertakings and private operators.

The government had issued the draft notification on June 10 to help the STUs and to provide better bus service to the public. It invited objections and suggestions from the stakeholders within a month.

If the final notification reflects the draft, the STUs will have a free hand to introduce any number of buses on new routes without taking permission from the state transport authority or the regional transport authority.

More importantly, there will be no competition from private operators as fresh permits will be fully banned once the final notification is issued.

‘Favouritism’
Private operators have strongly objected to the provision and accused the government of “favouritism”. They disagreed that the notification would help the STUs to introduce more buses in rural areas because the KSRTC often complains about difficulties in getting permits on new routes.

Private operators also questioned the ability of the STUs in providing adequate services to cater to all passengers.

They fear the notification will not only hinder their plans of introducing new buses on existing routes but also prevent them from introducing buses on new routes.

A majority of objections accused the government of violating the Motor Vehicles Act and the Competition Act, 2002, while issuing the draft notification.

The KSRTC, the BMTC, the NWKRTC and the NEKRTC, which will benefit from the notification, supported it.

They said they had made large investments in creating infrastructure and providing better facilities to their staff and passengers vis-a-vis private operators.