Private buses need KTC NOC to get route permit

PANAJI: The transport department has decided to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) before issuing new permits to private bus operators to operate buses on any route in the state which is part of the guidelines issued by the state transport authority (STA) to regional transport authorities (RTAs).In case, the permit holder has more than 3 offences/ MV violations registered against the driver/ conductor of the permit holder, under various sections of the MV Act then such operator shall not be considered for change of timing or modification of routes for a period of one year and this period has to be without any violation of MV rules.‘Bus operator’s past record will decide tie’No request from any stage carriage operators shall be considered if found to be repeatedly violating the allotted timings, not plying on holidays, hire of bus for private functions without intimation etc.The RTA accords permission for various stage carriage routes and timings operating within the state. Most of the bus routes are functional for over 3-4 decades. As and when the requirement arises, the respective RTA grants extension, modification or curtailing of routes. However, the procedure followed by each RTA varies and there is no standardisation, and, therefore, it was proposed to issues policy guidelines to all RTAs to be followed by them while deciding on applications received from various applicants for grant of stage carriage permit/modification.The guidelines stated the member secretary, RTA, shall issue a public notice in atleast two local newspapers specifying the route/timing to be added/granted. A copy of this notice shall also be displayed prominently on the notice board of the concerned RTA. “If within 15 days, no-objection is received from other stage carriage operators or stakeholders, then a RTA shall proceed to grant the permit/route extension /route curtailment etc,” a senior transport officer said. The member secretary, RTA, shall obtain NOC from Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd, before deciding on an any application made by a private stage carriage operator.“Preference shall be given to existing stage carriage operators over contract carriage permitholders. Further, no stage carriage permit shall be given to any contract carriage to be operated as stage carriage before completion of six years as a contract carriage,” the guidelines state.In case, there are more than one applicants for the same route, the RTA shall give consideration to past performance of the operator, his adherence to the timings, prosecution record, behaviour of driver and conductors, complaints received from public against the operator etc, and shall then give preference to the operator who has a good track record of adherence to timings and a good prosecution record.In case of a tie between the operators for the same route, the RTA shall allot the route by draw of lots in presence of the applicant or their representative and all the applicants should be informed well in advance of such time and date of draw.Once the RTA grants permit for a particular route or extends/curtails the routes based on such request from stage carriage operators, then the bus operators shall have to operate the bus on that route for a minimum period of 12 months and no request for further modification of route shall be considered during this 12-month period.