Team Goemkarponn
RIBANDAR: Private bus operators in Goa have rejected the state government’s newly revamped ‘Mhaji Bus Scheme 2025’, citing exclusion from the planning process and pending fuel subsidy payments amounting to ₹18 crore.
At a meeting held on Sunday, the All Goa Stage Carriage Bus Owners’ Association unanimously decided not to participate in the scheme unless the government clears the long-pending dues. The scheme offers a fuel subsidy of ₹3 per kilometre for operational buses, but operators argue that previous commitments have not been honoured.
Addressing the media, Association President Sudesh Kalangutkar criticised the government for formulating policies without consulting stakeholders. “We were not taken into confidence while drafting the scheme. How can we trust a new policy when the ₹18 crore subsidy for the past two years remains unpaid?” he said.
Kalangutkar also questioned the adequacy of the ₹3/km fuel subsidy, especially given the rising cost of diesel. He pointed out that several buses remain off the road due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and because many vehicles have exceeded the permissible age limit of 15 years.
He urged the government to focus on reviving the existing fleet before launching new initiatives. “Instead of adding complications with a revised scheme, the government should help bring older buses back into operation,” Kalangutkar said.
The updated scheme includes a provision of ₹10 lakh as financial assistance for replacing buses older than 15 years, with the condition that new vehicles must have a minimum seating capacity of 27. However, operators claim the scheme lacks clarity on implementation and fund disbursement.
Additionally, the government has proposed a 50% insurance subsidy, capped at ₹30,000 annually. While the scheme mandates that participating buses should be under 15 years old, a transitional provision allows vehicles up to 20 years old to be included for the first three years.
Despite these incentives, operators remain firm in their decision. “We will not join the scheme unless the government clears our dues and engages with us transparently,” Kalangutkar asserted.
