Cab drivers and contract carriage bus operators in the city are planning to hit the road again to protest against the imposition of motor vehicle taxes of lockdown period by the transport department and the harassment of banks for the repayment of EMIs.
“Lockdown and the subsequent work from the home culture in IT sector cast a dark shadow on our business as we were first not allowed to come on the road due to restrictions and now the transport department is imposing heavy motor vehicle taxes on us couple with penalties,” rued Syed Nizamuddin, President Telangana State Telangana State Cabs and Bus Operators Association (TSCBOA).
“Contract carriage buses usually carry passengers of IT and pharmaceutical companies besides ferry for tourism department and for essential services. Transportation department charges Rs.1210/- tax per seat in two districts such as Hyderabad and Rangareddy that translates into quarterly Rs.60,000/- per bus. As we haven’t performed in the last two quarters, the third quarter begins from this month. Thus, the roll-over burden of taxes would shoot up to whopping Rs.1.80 lakh this month while the vehicles are still kept under garage since the imposition of lockdown,” he rued.
“They are asking us to pay the taxes for the period of lockdown while it is widely comprehensible that no business was allowed to operate during the period wherein full lockdown was in force. Though the officials initially assured us to consider the request of waiving of MV Tax of lockdown period, they are now washing their hands saying the file has been sent to the government and response is awaited. In the meantime they have issued an order extending the last date of payment of MV Tax,” said Gopal Reddy, Union Secretary.
“Though we have recently held a protest against the imposition of motor vehicle taxes of non-performing period but are again planning to hit the road soon if our demands go unheard,” warned,” B.Naresh Joint Secretary.
“Similar is the situation of cab drivers of IT companies who were regularly harassed by the banks for repayment of EMIs for the months they haven’t performed on the roads as work from home culture in several companies is still enforced. As we are facing harassment from banks for repayment of EMIs, the government too has turned a blind eye towards our issues as no bail out comes to rescue us all these days,” said Shaik Salauddin, General Secretary Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers (IFAT).
There are a total 1.40 lakh cabs ferrying in the city wherein 35000 vehicles are appended with the IT sector. As the work from home culture rolled out in the IT companies with the imposition of lockdown in the month of March earlier this year, all the station wagons were moved into the garage.
