Bus owners oppose draft Majhi Bus Scheme, demand pending dues

Ponda: The Goa State Private Bus Owners Association on Sunday said they are opposed to the newly drafted Majhi Bus Scheme 2025 as they fear control by the government. The association also demanded that the government clear their fuel subsidy dues pending since 2018.

Addressing a press conference in Ponda on Sunday following a meeting with local bus owners, Association president Sudip Tamhankar said private bus operators are yet to receive fuel subsidy payments amounting to approximately Rs 36 crore, pending since 2018.

Tamhankar said that until the government clears outstanding fuel subsidy dues, private operators will not consider joining the new scheme. “These offers are just carrots to attract us. Once we join, we will be at their mercy,” he added.

“The government has not paid us the Rs 3 per kilometre fuel subsidy for two years (2018-19 and 2019-20). How can we believe it will deliver on the new promises?” Tamhankar said.

He alleged that the new draft of the Majhi Bus Scheme is designed to lure private operators with offers including Rs 3 per kilometre fuel subsidy, annual insurance waiver, free painting of buses, and a Rs10 lakh subsidy for purchasing new buses. Despite the seemingly attractive incentives, Tamhankar said bus owners fear exploitation if they come under government purview.

“The government introduced the Majhi Bus Yojana in 2023, and only 57 operators from South Goa joined. Around 1,100 others, including those in Ponda, continue to run their buses privately,” he said.

The association also announced plans to hold awareness meetings across various talukas in Goa to inform bus owners about the potential risks of enrolling in the government scheme.