Goa pvt bus operators demand tax hike rollback;threaten strike

Private bus operators in Goa have demanded roll back in tax hikes effecting their sector, failing which they warned to go an indefinite hunger strike.
All Goa Private Bus Owners Association (AGBOA) General Secretary Sudip Tamankar told media persons today that the seven-day strike notice would be served to the government on March 25.
If the state government fails to fulfil our demands, we will resort to hunger strike from April one onwards, Tamankar said.
The bus owners have been pressing for a hike roll back in various taxes following the state budget.
They are also demanding increase in bus fares, upto Rs 10 for first kilometre and Rs 10 paisa for every kilometre after that.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the recent budget increased passenger tax from 30 per cent to 50 per cent per seat. Also, green tax on vehicles, which are more than 15 years old has been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 for mini buses and from Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000 for bigger buses.
The state government has also announced a cess amounting to Rs 12,000 for new buses and transfer fee has been hiked from Rs 300 to Rs 1,800.
Tamankar said these taxes would make private bus business inviable, forcing them to get the vehicles off the roads.