Panaji: Around 500 private bus operators in
Goa have threatened indefinite strike from April 15 if the
government fails to allow them to advertise on their buses.
All Goa Private Bus Owners Association (AGPBOA) today
said their demand to let them advertise on their vehicles has
been pending with the state`s Transport Department since the
last one year.
"The bus operators have resolved to go on a hunger strike
in front of Transport Department office here from April 12,"
AGPBOA General Secretary Sudip Tamankar told a press
conference here.
After three days of hunger strike, if the state
government still continued dilly-dallying on their demands,
then they will stop operating buses from April 15, he said.
AGPBOA claims to have 500 bus operators as members. Goa
has a strong presence of private buses that are considered the
backbone of public transport system in the tourist state.
In 2001, the Government-run Kadamba Transport Corporation
Ltd (KTCL) was given permission to have paint advertisements
on its buses.
"The permission was granted with the riders like they
cannot advertise tobacco products. We are okay with such
restrictions," Tamankar said, adding an advertising agency has
approached them with the proposal of advertisements.
The money earned from ads can help operators take care of
financial liabilities like various taxes to be paid to the
state government, he said.
Besides advertisement on the buses, AGPBOA has also
demanded transfer of senior Transport Department officers and
lowering of fees for `Pollution Fitness Certificate.
PTI
