Hry to replace stage carriage scheme

CHANDIGARH: Succumbing to arm twisting techniques by state roadways employees, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, instead of implementing its stage carriage scheme notified in February 2017, is aiming to replace it with a new scheme.

A stage carriage permit is one that allows bus operators to pick and drop passengers from various points on a particular route. Under the scheme, permits were granted to private bus operators for plying buses on over 250 routes across the state.

But with employees of Haryana roadways going on strike in protest of grant of permits to private operators, the government has decided to cancel the existing scheme and replace it with a new one. An undertaking to this effect was also given by the government before the Punjab and Haryana high court.

On June 20, the government issued the draft of a new scheme. Private bus operators like Sunil Kumar, who is also the president of Haryana co-op transport society welfare association, say the new scheme lists out routes passing through link roads while the February 2017 scheme had routes on the state and national highways.

“This has been done under pressure from the roadways employees unions,’’ he further said.

WHAT HC ORDERED?

The Punjab and Haryana High court in its May 2017 order had said that since existing stage carriage scheme will remain operative till a new scheme is notified, the state government will be at liberty to issue permits to the applicants already registered on transport department portal, Vahan.

WHAT PRIVATE OPERATORS SAY?

The private operators have accused the government of not allowing them to ply their buses on routes for which they were issued permits.

“We were being forced to ply our buses on different routes by the regional transport authorities,” said president of Haryana co-op transport society welfare association, Sunil Kumar.

“Over 100 operators were not granted permit under the scheme despite high court orders. Many who purchased bus chassis were also not allowed to register their vehicles,’’ he added.

GOVT’S VIEWPOINT

Haryana transport commissioner Suprabha Dahiya said operators can only get temporary permits after notification of draft scheme on June 20.

“We have no issues allowing operators to ply their buses,” she said.

Transport minister Krishan Lal Panwar, who has been put under pressure due to strikes by roadways employees, was not available for a comment.

WHY THE ARM-TWISTING?

Though there is a shortage of transport buses in the state, roadways employees union have opposed the “privatisation” of the transport sector.

Roadways workers union leader SS Punia said, “Instead of going for privatisation, the government should think of bringing in more buses.”

A STAGE CARRIAGE PERMIT ALLOWS BUS OPERATORS TO PICK AND DROP PASSENGERS FROM VARIOUS POINTS ON A PARTICULAR ROUTE