AGARTALA, Nov 17 ? Buoyed by the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) success story, the Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) is toying with idea adopting the former?s formula to revive its business. The new and innovative approach by the TRTC, state?s lone transport company is expected to have twin blessings.
Recently four Guwahati-bound private buses were detained in Agartala without valid documents. Only TRTC is having permit of plying inter-state bus service. The rule formulates that the private buses plying in the Agartala-Guwahati route require permit from TRTC. All the private bus owners are required to abide by the TRTC norms.
Deputy Transport Commissioner of the TRTC issued advertisement in the local dailies seeking private transport companies? permit to ply buses in inter state bus service. Defying TRTC?s advertisement, some private travelling agencies continued with their services incurring the wrath of TRTC, sources said.
TRTC cautioned the private traveling agencies to abstain them from continuing with their bus services without procuring valid permit from the concerned authorities. If any bus is found violating the norms of the TRTC adopted recently, stern action will be taken, source added. TRTC also offered private travelling agencies to take necessary permit by giving them minimum ?tax? if they want to operate bus service in the inter state bus service.
Meanwhile, with pressure mounting from various quarters, Bangladesh Government has slashed travelling tax by Rs 200 for those touring the neighboring country through Agartala-Dhaka bus service. Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) sources confirmed that the order came into effect from November 13 last.
The issue was discussed at the high level meeting of two countries recently. And now Bangladesh government agreed to cut in the tax. After the decision, travelers will have to pay only Rs. 300 in Bangladesh currency instead of Rs. 500.
It is learnt that the decision on cuts in the trevelling tax by Bangladesh government would bring fresh hopes to the people visiting this route. It may be mentioned that Agartala-Dhaka bus service witnessed less passengers due to tax imposed by the Bangladesh Government. The bus service was suspended for last couple of month due to deplorable road condition and was resumed from November 1 last.
Meanwhile, TRTC cleared four buses for running interstate bus service without valid documents despite the notices issued by the concerned authorities.