Private transporters know no rules, flourishing at cost of PSUs

CHANDIGARH: The private transport companies in Punjab are flourishing at the cost of public Sector Undertakings, Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transport Corporation. In the last about ten years the private transport companies have multiplied their buses manifold and operations of public transport have shrinked significantly.The most hurting part of the monopoly of private transporters on many routes is the ill-treatment meted out to passengers by the ‘goons’ deployed in these buses. Even autos are not allowed to ferry passengers on some routes like Mohali-Fatehgarh Sahib where private buses have their monopoly routes.The ruling Badal family is not the major beneficiery of change in rules and regulations to pass on maximum benefits to private transporters. They have fleet of about 250 AC buses. For instance Jujhar Bus service which also partner with Sukhbir Badal’s family in the cable network being run in the name of fastway cable has expanded its transport business in the last few years. They have added about 50 AC luxury buses to ply on long routes from Mohali to Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana and Ferozepur etc. Khatra tansport has its monopoly on Patiala-Ludhiana route and they are expanding every year.The SAD-BJP government had reduced the passenger tax on AC buses (super integral) from Rs.7.50 per km to Rs.0.50 per km to benefit the private transporters whereas in case of ordinary buses used by majority of common men tax was reduced from RS.2.50 per Km to Rs..2.35 per Km.The Indo-Canadian bus service which is operating between Jalandhar and Delhi International airport was started by a NRI who was forced to sell the company to Badal family is also beneficiery. Dabwali transport also owned by Badals has also introduced AC buses across Punjab.The previous Capt Amarinder Singh government had devised kilometer scheme, rate contract system, to allow private buses to run on routes run by Punjab Roadways and PEPSU. Thw scheme was continued by SAD-BJP government and most of profit routes of Punjab Raodways and PEPSU are handed over to private bus coampanies owned by SAD leaders. Under this system, buses from private companies are hired for fixed monthly charges and these are plied under the banner of public tansport. The private company is paid the fixed amount and Punjab Raodways and PEPSU would bear the losses if any. For this purpose PUNBUS, a company was formed by government to allow it to hire private buses.