Temporary permits to pvt bus operators: Minister

Puducherry,Apr 3(UNI)The Puducherry administration proposed to grant temporary permits to private bus operators to find a solution to the problem of providing bus facilities to rural areas in the union territory, Minister for Education and Transport M O H F Shajahan told the Legislative Assembly today.

Widing up a discussion on the issue at the fag end of the day's sitting, Mr Shajahan said he held the first round of talks on inter-state agreement with his Tamil Nadu counterpart and another round would be held to finalise the agreement.

With this, there was a need for an additional 25 buses of which some were inter-state routes.

Since the process of purchasing buses by the Puducherry Raod Transport Corporation (PRTC) and making it operational would take at least six months, the administration proposed to give permits to private parties.

The Minister's statement drew widespread opposition from members who wanted the government to operate buses.

Mr Shajahan made it clear it would only be a temporary arrangement and only temporary permits would be granted. Once the buses were purchased, the PRTC would operate on all routes.

Earlier, several members who participated in the discussion pointed out the problems faced by the people in their constituencies due to the absence of bus facility and wanted the government to find a solution to the problem forthwith.

UNI PAB RC US1547