Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar on Monday called on Private Bus Operators at his office in Punjab Civil Secretariat and assured them to consider their genuine demands sympathetically.

Bhullar assured the delegation that a constructive decision on their legitimate demands would be taken soon, adding that the Punjab Government is trying hard to give much needed impetus of support to the transport industry coping up after the severe set-back during Corona lockdown. The Minister added that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has accorded extra time of three months without any penalty for transporters to pay motor taxes/arrears.

The Cabinet Minister said that the state carriage tax had already been reduced and now the transport operators who had failed to pay the tax have been given much needed succor by the government under the amnesty scheme. On the demand of waive off 10 percent Social Security Cess on vehicle tax, the Minister said that the matter was with the finance department and he would approach the finance department in this regard.

To give extra time to submit motor taxes/arrears in next three months without any penalty, the transporters said that this decision has been of immense benefit to the private bus service owners, while extending words of gratitude towards Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann in this regard. They said that this decision will give them a fair chance to get out of a severe financial crisis and get back on their feet after the lockdown period. Mr. Bhullar was assured by the transporters that the Punjab Government would extend full support to those operators following all the terms and conditions.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Secretary Transport Vikas Garg, State Transport Commissioner Vimal Kumar Setia, Transport Director Amandeep Kaur, Additional State Transport Commissioner Amarbir Singh Sidhu and several other officials were present.