Bus owners on indefinite strike protesting taxes hike

Ranchi, Nov 2 (UNI) The Jharkhand private bus owners have launched an indefinite strike since yesterday protesting the hike in road taxes by the Bihar government affecting more than 800 buses throughout the state.

The Bihar government has raised the temporary road permit taxes from Rs 8,750 to 43,000 for three months on the buses coming from other states.

Jharkhand bus owners association (JBOA) president Krishna Mohan Singh told UNI here that the bus owners have stopped the inter-state bus services to Bihar demanding to lower the taxes with the provision of giving permanent permits.

Mr Singh said they also met Jharkhand Transport Minister Anos Ekka, who had assured them to look into the matter and discuss with his Bihar counterpart.

Meanwhile, Transport Department officials said Jharkhand government had sent a letter to its Bihar counterpart seeking to make provisions for issuing permanent permits for state buses.

They have also warned that if things are not solved immediately then the Jhakhand government would stop the movement of buses bearing Bihar registration number.

UNI AM PP AKP1544