Kolkata: Bengal transport minister Arjun Singh on Monday met private bus operators and indicated that the government would consider several of their demands, including fare revision, a cap on highway tolls and relief on road-tax penalties. Singh said the issues would be discussed with chief minister Suvendu Adhikari before a final decision is taken.DrinOn fare revision, Singh said the government would “sympathetically” consider the demand after the Puja, acknowledging that a revision was necessary for smooth bus operations.Bus operators urged the government and NHAI to adopt the Odisha model and cap toll payments at Rs 1,000 per bus per month, arguing that high toll costs were making services increasingly unviable.“We have requested the NHAI to follow the Odisha model so that a bus does not need to pay more than Rs 1,000 per month,” said Rahul Chattopadhyay of the All Bengal Bus O Minibus Samannay Samiti. He said Singh, in the presence of NHAI officials, assured operators that the proposal would be examined.The minister also assured operators that there would be parity in payments for requisitioned buses. While the Election Commission pays Rs 2,780 per bus per day, operators said police requisitions fetch only Rs 980.Titu Saha of Suburban City Services, also sought waiver of penalties and interest on unpaid road tax, saying the accumulated dues had become a major financial burden. “We are assured of govt’s consideration,” said Saha.
