BENGALURU: Thanks to raised road taxes, restrictive allow conditions and other regulations in Karnataka, buses are struggling to stay pace with the emerging selection of non-public vehicles.
Transport division records show the selection of non-public vehicles registered in the state almost doubled between 2011-12 and 2018-19 (until January): two-wheelers (77.four lakh to 1.five crore) and cars (12.7 lakh to 24.7 lakh). However, the selection of buses (degree carriages, contract carriages, non-public service, educational establishment and other buses) registered greater from 62,508 to 1.06 lakh, an addition of just 44,404 vehicles during this period.
Experts say buses occupy one-tenth of the road area according to passenger as against non-public vehicles. However, the acquisition of a vehicle isn't linked to the distance used by vehicles or the proportion of commuters they ferry. "A car is consuming 12.8 times more space on Bengaluru roads during the peak hour to carry one person than a bus and 1.8 times than a two-wheeler," mentioned Ashish Verma, professor of shipping engineering at IISc.
Fewer buses — non-public and government— leads to deficient public shipping device in city and rural spaces, additional pushing expansion of private vehicles. Karnataka levies some of the absolute best road taxes in the nation on buses. For stage-carriage buses, the dep. collects Rs 990 according to seat for each and every 3 months. It method a 48-seater bus must pay about Rs 47,520 each and every 3 months, which translates to 1.9 lakh a yr. In contrast, one-time life-time road tax and cess for a Rs 10lakh-worth automotive is most effective Rs 1.five lakh.
Higher taxes and violations
Sources mentioned an increasing number of buses plying in the state are now registered in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Odisha and Puducherry as they've much less allow restrictions and road taxes.
There also are several lawsuits against non-public operators for running different buses underneath single allow. While buses with contract-carriage permits are allowed to perform from a fixed level to another to ferry folks, many are plying as regular stage-carriage buses, selecting and shedding passengers from bus stands and en-route bus stops.
Former shipping commissioner Bhaskar Rao mentioned there is huge call for for buses, particularly in districts where there are not enough government buses. "Many contract-carriage buses are plying as stage carriers because of high demand. Tax structure for buses should be reduced to improve the public transport system," he added.
KT Rajashekar, chairman of the Bus Operators’ Confederation of India, mentioned their pleas to reduce taxes have fallen on deaf ears. “Many operators are paying several lakhs as taxes each and every month. This aside, diesel price and other maintenance costs have gone up which is affecting us,” he mentioned.
No incentives for using public shipping
"It’s illogical to impose heavy tax on buses that carry more people than private vehicles. With the transport department imposing high taxes, bus owners also pass on the burden to the common people. Ideally, there should be higher tax on private vehicles like cars to discourage their use. More buses on roads means less congestion and pollution, which is a sustainable model. Unfortunately, our government’s priorities are different as there are no incentives for those who use public transport" mentioned Ashish Verma, professor of shipping engineering at IISc.
Transport division records show the selection of non-public vehicles registered in the state almost doubled between 2011-12 and 2018-19 (until January): two-wheelers (77.four lakh to 1.five crore) and cars (12.7 lakh to 24.7 lakh). However, the selection of buses (degree carriages, contract carriages, non-public service, educational establishment and other buses) registered greater from 62,508 to 1.06 lakh, an addition of just 44,404 vehicles during this period.
Experts say buses occupy one-tenth of the road area according to passenger as against non-public vehicles. However, the acquisition of a vehicle isn't linked to the distance used by vehicles or the proportion of commuters they ferry. "A car is consuming 12.8 times more space on Bengaluru roads during the peak hour to carry one person than a bus and 1.8 times than a two-wheeler," mentioned Ashish Verma, professor of shipping engineering at IISc.
Fewer buses — non-public and government— leads to deficient public shipping device in city and rural spaces, additional pushing expansion of private vehicles. Karnataka levies some of the absolute best road taxes in the nation on buses. For stage-carriage buses, the dep. collects Rs 990 according to seat for each and every 3 months. It method a 48-seater bus must pay about Rs 47,520 each and every 3 months, which translates to 1.9 lakh a yr. In contrast, one-time life-time road tax and cess for a Rs 10lakh-worth automotive is most effective Rs 1.five lakh.
Higher taxes and violations
Sources mentioned an increasing number of buses plying in the state are now registered in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Odisha and Puducherry as they've much less allow restrictions and road taxes.
There also are several lawsuits against non-public operators for running different buses underneath single allow. While buses with contract-carriage permits are allowed to perform from a fixed level to another to ferry folks, many are plying as regular stage-carriage buses, selecting and shedding passengers from bus stands and en-route bus stops.
Former shipping commissioner Bhaskar Rao mentioned there is huge call for for buses, particularly in districts where there are not enough government buses. "Many contract-carriage buses are plying as stage carriers because of high demand. Tax structure for buses should be reduced to improve the public transport system," he added.
KT Rajashekar, chairman of the Bus Operators’ Confederation of India, mentioned their pleas to reduce taxes have fallen on deaf ears. “Many operators are paying several lakhs as taxes each and every month. This aside, diesel price and other maintenance costs have gone up which is affecting us,” he mentioned.
No incentives for using public shipping
"It’s illogical to impose heavy tax on buses that carry more people than private vehicles. With the transport department imposing high taxes, bus owners also pass on the burden to the common people. Ideally, there should be higher tax on private vehicles like cars to discourage their use. More buses on roads means less congestion and pollution, which is a sustainable model. Unfortunately, our government’s priorities are different as there are no incentives for those who use public transport" mentioned Ashish Verma, professor of shipping engineering at IISc.
K'taka: Surge in pvt vehicles; buses far behind
![K'taka: Surge in pvt vehicles; buses far behind]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 19, 2019
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