Tiruchy, Oct 6:
Minibus owners on Monday approached Thanjavur district collector R Revathi opposing the free bus service for women, saying it had severely affected their livelihood, and appealed to the government to reduce the number of free buses operating on the route.
The Minibus Owners Association, headed by its president VND Venkatesan, submitted a petition to the collector stating that they were already struggling to operate their services due to rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of spare parts and tyres. The government’s free bus service for women, now being operated as Vetri Payanam, had further affected their daily business and livelihood, they said.
“As we have been in this business for more than three decades, we are unaware of other business options. The state government should consider the welfare of minibus owners and allow us to operate between the Thanjavur old bus stand and the new bus stand. It should also reduce the number of free buses operating on the route,” the petition said.
After submitting the petition, Venkatesan told reporters that minibus services had been affected by the previous DMK government’s introduction of Magalir Vidiyal Payanam and that the scheme was now being continued as Vetri Payanam.
“We are struggling to meet our daily expenses, and hundreds of workers dependent on minibus services are finding it difficult even to earn their daily bread. The state government should consider our plea,” Venkatesan said.