COVID-19 impact: Bus owners' condition pathetic!

GUWAHATI: Buses in the State have been facing a harrowing time during the COVID-19 outbreak. They are not in a position to pay EMIs and taxes, besides renewing their insurance cover. To cap it all, they (long-distance buses) need to pay approximately Rs 500 at each toll gate they cross.

On the income side, the buses had been lying idle for about six months. When they have been allowed to ply, they have to carry passengers only half of their capacity.

Around 300 school buses run in greater Guwahati. However, during the lockdown they were not paid salaries or any remuneration by the school authorities. For them going is getting too tough by clearing taxes, EMIs and renewing their insurance cover.

Talking to The Sentinel, a member of the Greater Guwahati Transport Association (GGTA) said, "If the bus fare is hiked during the COVID-19 period, we can give a succour to bus crew members. Now, we've have been incurring huge loss. Even if the government exempts us of EMI, we can get a relief. We did request the government for such a relief, but to no avail."

He said, "This is not all. From April to July more than two hundred buses were made to ply for the inter-district movement of people. Our drivers and handymen did the job risking their life. However, even today the government hasn't cleared our dues amounting to around Rs 2 crore. If the government clears these dues, we can get a succour.

"We've to survive, besides making payments to our drivers and handymen. However, in the current situation going is getting very tough for us. The government only makes tall claims, but does precious little."

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