Jaipur: Private bus operators have issued strike warnings, seeking complete payment for their vehicles utilised during Union home minister Amit Shah’s gathering at Dadiya village in Jaipur Thursday. According to the operators, the state govt has only reimbursed fuel expenses, despite the standard protocol of including a Rs 5,000 daily detention fee.“The govt wants to pay only the fuel charge. Forget about what we earn as profit, now we need to pay the drivers and the helpers from our own pocket for those days,” said Kailash Chand Sharma, president of Private Bus Operators’ Association of Rajasthan.Bus operators have already written to deputy chief minister and transport minister Prem Chand Bairwa to take the matter seriously and release their remaining payments. The bus owners also pointed out discriminatory treatment, stating that RSRTC buses received comprehensive fare payments from the govt. According to norms, whenever the govt hires private buses, the govt pays them around 50 paisa per seat per km for fuel charge and the detention charge of Rs 5,000 per day. For RSRTC, the govt pays a minimum of Rs 18,400 for 400 km and 24 hours. Above this, Rs 46 per km or Rs 18,400 per 24 hours.“Generally, both RSRTC and private bus provide 50-seater buses on rent. If a bus travels 400 km in 24 hours, RSRTC gets Rs 18,400 from the govt. Whereas, private bus operators get Rs 10,000 as fuel charge and another Rs 5,000 for detention charges. For the home minister’s rally, the govt only paid Rs 10,000,” said Sharma.Officials from transport department refused to comment. “We have made the payment with funds available with us. We informed the terms and conditions to the bus owners,” an official said.
