PERMITS OF 10 PRIVATE BUSES SUSPENDED FOR PARTICIPATING IN STRIKE

PONDA: Taking a strong view of the bus strike that was held on April 15, Ponda road transport authority (RTA) has suspended the temporary permits of 10 buses plying on different routes from Ponda and issued notices of suspension of permanent permits to others for their participation in the bus strike.

Admitting having issued suspension notices, Ponda assistant director of transport (ADT) Nandkishor Arolkar said that a final decision to suspend the permits or not would be taken at a meeting of RTA. The date of the RTA's next meeting has not yet been decided, he added.

Arolkar said the RTA found that 10 buses with temporary permits and about 150 buses with permanent permits were off the road on the striking day. As a result, the ADT office has issued notices to permanent permit holders asking them to explain why their licences should not be terminated.

Revealing that the notices were served between April 18 and 22 and that bus operators are filing their replies, the ADT said they are going through their replies.

"The replies clarify their stand of keeping their buses off the road on the bandh day. The final decision about the suspension of the permanent permits will be taken at the RTA meeting that normally takes place in the first week of almost every month," Arolkar said. "The temporary permits are, however, suspended and they have to ask for a fresh permit now," the ADT added.