Clearing the air on the allegations of injustice by private bus operators, Punjab Transport Minister Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today clarified that the state government was recovering taxes only for the year 2021 from the private bus operators and no injustice is being done with private players.While checking Punjab Roadways Bus Depot at Sri Muktsar Sahib, Raja Warring told reporters, "No private bus was being stopped, rather the state government had waived off taxes of private bus transporters for the period of Corona pandemic.”He categorically said that the tax which the private bus operators have been evading for the last 10 months, has already been collected by them from passengers in the form of tickets.
Expressing happiness over the increase in daily revenue of government buses by Rs.40 lakh, he said that government depots are now making a profit.He also informed that the government would provide Rs.56 lakh for renovating the local bus stand and the entire work to be entrusted upon to PWD (B&R) for early completion of the work.On this occasion, the Cabinet Minister inspected the bus workshop, diesel pump auto mission system, cleanliness of the bus stand and lend ear to the grievances of commuters in the government buses.Mr. Raja Waring also listened to the problems of Mr. Hans Raj, a cobbler at the bus stand, and directed the concerned contractor to charge Rs.700 per month from him instead of earlier Rs.1200 per month rent.