Karnataka State Private Bus Owners Association alleges ‘Shakti Yojana’ is the reason for losses

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Private Bus Owners Association submitted a memorandum to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Tuesday, highlighting the losses incurred due to the Shakti Yojana, BMTC expansion and illegal bus operators.

If the issues are not resolved within 10 days, the bus owners will have to protest across the state, warned the association’s president S. Nataraj Sharma. The memorandum said that the Shakti Yojana, which provides free travel to women in government buses, has reduced the number of people travelling on private buses by paying.

The association has highlighted the inequities in the All India Tourist Permit System, alleging that operators in Karnataka are paying significantly higher taxes compared to operators in other states.

Buses registered in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, many without proper inspection or due to violation of the body code, are entering Karnataka by paying just Rs 60,000 annually. However, local operators are charged a fee ranging from Rs 82,000 to Rs 1.58 lakh. ‘This creates unhealthy and unfair competition. If clarity is not provided, our members may be forced to re-register vehicles in other states and re-enter Karnataka,’ the memorandum warns.