Pvt buses start services, owners seek relaxation

CHENNAI: After six months, Omnibuses resumed intra-State services on Friday with only 500 out of 4,000 buses hitting the street.

All Omni Bus Operators Association general secretary A Anbalagan said that the bus operators resumed services after fumigating and cleaning the buses which remained parked in the shelter for more than six months.

“We will operate only 500 buses initially, considering the lower demand from passengers. As and when the demand increases, we will operate more buses,” he said.

According to the State government guidelines, the buses would be operated with 60 per cent seating capacity. “We will also operate luxury and AC buses with the temperature set as per the Centre’s guidelines. But we will not provide blankets,” he added.

The Tamil Nadu Bus Owners Association said they would not operate the buses as they awaited a directive from the Madras High Court. Apart from the demand for exemption from road tax for six months from April, they wanted the government to allow allseats occupancy. An omnibus operator wondered why the government insisted on 60 per cent seating when State utilities were overcrowded.