S Goa tourist coach owners allege discrimination

MARGAO: The South Goa Tourist Coaches Owners Association has alleged discrimination by the state's transport department between contract carriage vehicles (tourist coaches) and stage carriage vehicles (route buses).
In a letter addressed to the director of transport, the association, while listing out its grievances, has urged him to provide them justice at the earliest.
Speaking to TOI, Francis D'Silva, the president of the association, said that the lack of any facility at the border check posts to issue special permits to ply beyond the state, results in the tourist coaches losing their business.
"While we are deprived of our earnings owing to absence of any arrangement to issue permits, private vehicle owners conduct the business illegally," he pointed out.
Alleging discrimination while determining the life of the carriers, D'Silva said that while contract carriage vehicles are given a life span of fifteen years, the stage carriers are allowed to ply on the roads for as long as 20 years.
The association also pointed out that they were charged a higher rate of passenger tax, as compared to the stage carriers.
"While we have to pay Rs 50 as passenger tax, the stage carriers are charged only Rs 35.
"When it is an accepted fact that ours is a seasonal business, while that of stage carriers is throughout the year, why this discrimination against us?" D'Silva questioned.