School Buses Should Be Exempted From Taxes, Urge Operators

By 121 News

Chandigarh Sept. 06, 2021:- Members of the Chandigarh School Bus Operators Welfare Association (CSBOWA) who are facing the wrath of the global pandemic Covid 19, have demanded from the UT administration that in view of their miserable economic condition, they should be helped to overcome the crisis of recession. CSBOWA, which is the apex body of nearly 500 school buses of Chandigarh catering tricity, urged the UT administration to exempt them from road tax during a press conference held at Chandigarh Press Club on Monday. Manjit Singh Saini, President, CSBOWA while addressing the media said that since 18 months, the operation of school buses has come to a complete halt, due to which it has become extremely difficult for the bus owners as well as the bus staff - drivers and conductors for their survival. He said that maximum bus operators have found it difficult to even repay their installment of their busses and meet their domestic needs.

The association demands that Chandigarh school buses should be exempted from road tax from the period between March 2020 to March 2022.

In another demand, the association has also urged the UT Administration should waive off their late fee and penalty on road tax/fitness test as the Ministry of Roads and Transport (MRT) has already approved that the validity of documents has extended upto September 30, 2021 which is quite close. Now UT Administration has instructed schools to open their classes from V to XII with the consent of parents. As per the data collected strength from the different schools is very low and the interest to avail the bus services is totally negligible, that is also concern for operators which makes their future in dark. The operation of school with full capacity is uncertain as online class facility is being provided to the students. Low strength of students shall not be able to cover up running costs of monthly buses and operators feel helpless.

The association has also demanded that the Reciprocal System of Tax should be extended to the border area of Mohali district. In this context, the association has already held a meeting with the Governor of Punjab, State Transport Commissioner/Secretary and concerned transport authorities of tricity. In this view meeting all three state transport commissioners/secretaries held on Feb 11, 2020 and Principal Secretary, Transport Department, Govt of Punjab has agreed for the proposal to allow Chandigarh registered school buses to run upto area of Mohali district.

In the Corona period, the entire operation of school buses has been standstill for about one and a half years, in lieu of which the General Secretary of the association, Jiwan Rattan Sharma has also demanded that the life span of their buses should be increased from 15 years to 20 years so the losses incurred by bus operators can be reduced.

He also stated that the two years buses lifespan lapsed without plying on the routes and resulted in huge financial losses and the market value also sharply depreciated and needs at least Rs 80000/- per bus 

During the press conference, Vice President Trilochan Singh, Secretary Satinder Vir Singh, Treasurer Lakhbir Singh, Advisor Manmohan Singh and others also expressed their views to overcome this crisis.