Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 25
In pursuance of its poll promise to put an end to the transport mafia, the Congress government in Punjab on Monday cancelled 806 bus permits extended illegally, affecting a large fleet of buses operated by 340 private companies, including those run by the Badals, on ‘monopoly’ routes. Among the companies whose permits have been cancelled are Rajdhani, Orbit and Taj Travels, sources in the Transport Department said.
The orders would affect 1,00,000 km being covered by the transporters through these permits, including 30,000 km by buses run by politically influential families. A month’s time has been given to the affected transporters to file an appeal.
To cancel the 806 bus permits, the State Transport Commissioner (STC) has issued 680 orders. In most cases the permits had been in operation for over 10 to 15 years. “The cancelled permits were being used to run ordinary buses and not super integral coaches”, explained a senior official. Transport Minister Amrinder Singh Raja Warring confirmed that “speaking orders” for cancellation of the permits had been issued. The Transport Department initiated the process to scrap the illegally extended bus permits after private bus operators in July withdrew 38 writ petitions in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the government’s cancellation notices.
A month for appeal
- Among the companies whose permits have been cancelled are Rajdhani, Orbit and Taj Travels
- A month’s time has been given to the affected transporters to file an appeal
Punjab cancels 806 bus permits, ‘monopoly’ routes included
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