In a major relief to bus operators in Punjab, chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered 100% tax waiver on Motor Vehicle Tax till December 31 for all stage carriage, mini and school buses, while deferring payment of arrears of taxes, without interest and penalty to March 31, 2021.
The tax waiver move will result in total financial benefit to the transport sector to the tune of ₹100 crore, according to an official spokesperson.
The CM also directed Transport Minister Razia Sultana to discuss and resolve other issues of concern to mini private bus owners by next week. The transporters were unable to meet even the cost of diesel to run their vehicles with less than 10% commuters availing the bus services. Though the state transport and PRTC, being prime routes, were in demand, private bus operators continued to suffer due to the pandemic, representatives of the transport associations told the CM.
