Bus owners consider legal action against scrapping
Times of India | 30 October 2024
Kolkata: Bus owners on Tuesday said they are considering a legal route to argue their case in Calcutta High Court against the current scrapping policy and plead for the extension of the vehicle's life from 15 years at present to 20 years. The owners, who met at Gariahat, said that between August this year and April 2025, around 1,200 buses are being scrapped as they have all completed 15 years.
"The new inductions will not be more than 700 odd buses. At best, another 50-100 buses can get added. The poor man's transport is the bus, and this shortfall will hit the transport sector negatively," said Titu Saha of City Suburban Bus Service.
The owners have offered multiple solutions as number of phase outs is higher than the number of replacements. "One option to reduce fuel pullution by making use of high octane diesel compulsory, thus cutting down on sulphur and lead emissions. Another option is mass CNG conversion along with suitable financial package. Also, unlike 15 years ago, buses are either Euro IV or Euro VI. Emission pollution is a lot less than before. All these will be highlighted in court. It is the state's moral responsibility to save public transport and we are ready to sit with them," said Saha.
According to Saha, the agenda for their convention also included another aspect: unnatural rise of monetary fines in police cases. Saha said they want the state govt to help them in this endeavour.