Bus permit issue:

Authority to bust monopoly

Disna MUDALIGE

The tender calling to issue new bus permits is temporarily halted to prevent a few bus owners having the monopoly, Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority Chairman Piyasena Dissanayake told the Daily News.

He said that the government's aim was to provide opportunities for small scale businessmen to come forward without letting a few bus owners to strengthen their hands. He said that the Supreme Court was in the process of deciding whether bus permits should be offered for the first come first serve basis or under tender system. "When tenders are called the permit should be offered for the highest amount. As a result only large scale businessmen in the sector gain the permits. Their monopoly is harmful for the general public as well as small scale businessmen. It is true that we could gain more profit by tender calling, but what is more important for us is the public satisfaction", he said. He also said that new permits were only issued after a careful study for the routes with vacancies and no irregularities had caused in this process. He stressed that on behalf of the authority he was ready to take the full responsibility of its work and denied allegations of exceeding any legal procedure in issuing bus permits. Meanwhile, Combined Trade Organization Chairman Asoka Wickramanayake addressing a media conference yesterday requested the authority follow formal tender procedure in issuing new bus permits in order to secure the income of the authority. He said that they had found out 36 irregular offerings of permits and the authority had only gained Rs 2.8 million income from them whereas this income could have been over the 20 million if tenders were called.

"Last year alone the authority had to spend about Rs 8 million for vehicle maintenance, Rs 5 million for oil and Rs 1.5 million for court cases against the Authority.

The Treasury disburses about Rs 115 million for the expenses of the authority annually, and the relevant officers should pay attention to maintain its income in a proper manner" he noted.