PANAJI: Private buses will stay off the road on September 6 as the All-Goa Bus Owners Association has called a daylong strike to protest against the alleged harassment by the state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation and the government’s failure to address their 11-point demands.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the AGBOA general-secretary, Mr Sudip Tamankar informed that the private buses would stay off the road on September 6 to protest the alleged harassment of the KTC -- which is illegally operating buses on certain routes -- and the government’s failure to address their demands.

He recalled that the association had submitted a list of 11 demands to the government, which included advertisements on private buses, subsidy scheme, 50 permits on nationalised routes among others. The AGBOA functionary claimed that there has been no assurance from the authorities over the demands, adding that the strike call has been made not to put the public to inconvenience but to draw the attention of the authorities.

Mr Tamankar said the private bus owners have also been demanding a transport policy for the state which could bring in guidelines for public transport system. He said as both KTC and private bus operators are providing transport services, there has to be an understanding.

Alleging that the KTC is eating into the livelihood of private bus owners, he claimed that the KTC has permits to operate five minibuses on Mapusa-Panaji, but it is operating 15-18 buses. Likewise the KTC has permits for four minibuses on Sankhali-Panaji routes, two minibuses on the Margao-Ponda route and four minibuses on the Margao-Sanvordem route, however they are operating many more buses than they have permits, the AGBOA general-secretary said.

He also said the association would oppose KTC’s proposal to connect 50 new routes as it would adversely affect business of private bus owners. He said that they would approach judiciary over the 50 permits on the nationalised routes as the KTC has just 80-odd buses plying as against the 120-odd buses at the time of nationalisation and the KTC is unable to provide the services.

Informing that the association has formed a 25-member committee to oversee that that the buses are not overloaded, Mr Tamankar appealed the bus owners not to overload the buses. He said the association is also committed to reserve seats for the ladies, physically-challenged and senior citizens and urged to public to also cooperate.