For first time, state to issue bus permits for expressways

Applications invited from operators; transport authority to issue permits after meeting on November 29

LUCKNOW: For the first time, the state government would issue permits for the operation of stage carriage buses on expressways in Uttar Pradesh. paving the way for parallel operations by the UP Sate Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) and private operators on the new ‘lucrative’ routes, a transport official said.

The State Transport Authority (STA) has formally invited applications from transporters willing to bus obtain bus permits for the expressways by November 22.

The STA has convened its meeting here on November 29 to consider applications and issue permits accordingly.

Applicants have been asked to deposit Rs 200 each as application fee and Rs 7500 each as permit fee.

The routes for which applications for bus permits have been invited include Purvanchal Expressway (Lucknow-Ghazipur via Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh), Bundelkhand Expressway (Chitrakoot, Bharthana via Banda, Jalaun, Rath, Auraya Agra and Yamuna Expressways (Lucknow-Noida, sector 37via ring road Kuberpur in Agra, Pari Chowk, Botanical Garden Sector-37 and from there to Kaushambi-Meerut Expressway.

The state government had formulated these new routes recently, allowing both the UPSRTC and the private buses to operate on the prime routes to provide a choice to passengers.

A bus with a stage carriage permit can carry more than six passengers, excluding the driver, for hire or reward at separate fares paid by or for individual passengers, either for the whole journey or for stages of the journey.

A contract carriage, on the other hand, is a motor vehicle that carries passengers for hire or reward and is engaged under a contract for the use of such

vehicle as a whole for the carriage of passengers mentioned therein and entered into by a person with a holder of a permit, like for carrying a marriage party or tourists etc.

“All the buses that are currently operating on the expressways are covered with contract carriage permits but operate as stage carriage in violation of rules,” a senior transport official said.

A lot of buses, he added, were plying between Delhi and states like Bihar and Chhatisgarh via UP, often getting involved in mishaps on expressways.

The UPSRTC that had been mounting pressure on the government to declare the expressways as nationalized routes to have exclusive rights to operate there, is said to be unhappy with the decision.

“The UPSRCT may apparently not be happy but the government decision to issue stage carriage permits on expressways will curb unauthorized operations on these important routes and also promote a healthy competition between the UPSRTC and the private operators to the benefits of passengers, besides helping the government to earn handsome revenue,” the official pointed out.

It is believed that a large number of bus operators will apply for a stage bus carriage permit, vying with one another to operate buses on expressways which are said to be hugely profit-making routes.

“The STA may have to specify some strict terms and conditions to weed out some applicants,” another official said.