Rajahmundry: The road transport authorities are keeping a close vigil on private bus operators as they are resorting to a series of violations ranging from registering their vehicles in other states like Arunachal Pradesh and operating them as stage carriages causing huge revenue loss to the state exchequer. This means that though the bus is registered in another state, they are plying regularly in AP and TS and between Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada to Hyderabad and vice versa.
Though the registrations of buses are done as per the norms of recent Central Motor Vehicles Rules where the registration charges across India is the same, the private operators save money by paying less tax in states like Arunachal Pradesh. Even though it is mandatory to either operate the buses in the state where they are registered or visit such states at regular intervals, the private operators ignore this norm. The jugglery is further encouraged when no action is initiated by either state.
For instance in AP, a private bus operator is supposed to pay tax to the tune of Rs 3,750 per seat per quarter and the operator pays on average tax worth Rs 1.50 lakh for a 40-seater bus each quarter. The operators who get their buses registered in Arunachal Pradesh pay less tax for a seat to the tune of Rs 1,500 or less. This means that the operator can save nearly 50 percent tax money on each seat per quarter.
East Godavari road transport authorities have slammed as many as 25 cases on private operators for registering their buses in Arunachal Pradesh and operating them completely in AP and TS. There have been other violations as well. Like no registration, non-payment of taxes and others. Road Transport Commissioner reportedly called up his counterpart in Arunachal Pradesh recently and expressed his concern over the growing practice that is causing huge revenue loss to the AP government.
Moreover, a section of private operators are also plying two to three buses with single registration number to different areas. A contract carriage is one where the passengers who are related to one another board the bus at one point and alight at the same point. But, the prevailing practice is that all private buses are being operated as stage carriages by allowing the passengers to board and alight at their own choice.
East Godavari Road Transport Deputy Transport Commissioner V. Siri Anand said, “We are keeping close tabs on private bus operators who are registering their vehicles in other states. As the operators who registered their buses in Arunachal Pradesh have obtained a stay order from High Court, we are awaiting the final order to proceed against them for violation of norms.”
