Private buses to remain off roads today

Khetani said they will continue the strike for two days.

According to Sabarmati police Inspector M B Joshi,the private bus operators could not demonstrate as they had planned because the police arrested them in the morning.

The bus operators arrested in this connection were Jayendra Bavariya of Eagle Travels,Ilesh Bhadra of Jamnagar Travels,Samir Patel of Premnath Travels,Harshad Ahir of Shivshakti Travels,Harjsi Patel of

H K Travels,Mahesh Gautam of Maheshwari Travels,Bhavesh Patel of Maitri Travels and Nilesh Patel of Baldev Travels.

The bus operators are protesting against the rise in service tax,toll tax,RTO tax and the rising diesel price.

The private operators have announced to withdraw their services on January 9 also. However,the union has allowed the bus operators to run buses that have been booked for marriages and religious tours or for emergency services.

Jayendra Bavariya from the Eagle Travels said,“We pay Rs 22,000 per month for every bus irrespective of its use in that particular month.”

Moreover,he said,Gujarat is the only place where private bus operators have to pay taxes in advance.

“We pay taxes in the beginning of the month and now taxes are also increasing,” he added.

The restriction on entry of private buses in the city limits has annoyed not only the bus operators,but also the citizens,said Bavariya.

“We have lost 50 per cent of our business due to this,” he said.

“Why does not the government let use many of its plots available in the city as ‘pay and park’ area and allow us to use them as stoppages for commuters?” asked Bavariya.

According to bus operators,private luxury buses are the first preference of the visitors from other states and even foreign tourists.

“We have been giving comfortable,affordable and luxurious services to the people and generating a lot of revenue for the government through taxes. Why is the government turning a blind eye to us when on the other hand they are talking big on encouraging tourism?” Bavariya said.