Despite firming up plans to hand over 5,100 routes to private transport operators taking shelter under the amended Motor Vehicle Act, the Telangana government is yet to frame rules which are mandatory under the law. Questioning the government’s motives, the high court on Friday cried halt to privatisation of TSRTC routes and wanted a copy of cabinet decision be placed before it by Monday.
HYDERABAD: Despite firming up plans to hand over 5,100 routes to private transport operators taking shelter under the amended Motor Vehicle Act, the Telangana government is yet to frame rules which are mandatory under the law. Questioning the government’s motives, the high court on Friday cried halt to privatisation of TSRTC routes and wanted a copy of cabinet decision be placed before it by Monday.
Experts and former officials said the government can go ahead with its move only after framing the guidelines and inviting objections and suggestions from people before taking up the exercise. Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao stirred the hornet’s nest by announcing that private operators would be allowed to run buses on 5,100 routes out of 10,400. He also said a notification would be issued by the road transport authority.
Experts said the state government has not fully taken to the Act, which seeks to tighten traffic regulations and impose steep penalties for violation of traffic rules. The CM had, on September 15, said that his government was not in haste to implement the new penalty system under the amended MV Act. “If that being the case, why is his government rushing to privatise routes on grounds that the new Act allows it to do so,” a road transport asked.
Union ministry of road transport and highways notified provisions of MV Amendment Act 2019 in August and many states started implementing it from September 1. However, the Telangana assembly is yet to ratify it. Former officials said though MV Act-2019 empowers states to take policy decisions on encouraging private operators, states cannot directly open doors for private operators by issuing a notification.
“The rules should specify licence or permit fee, application form and grant of licence, including renewal, suspension and cancellation of modification of licences along with application forms. The rules can be notified and approved by a subordinate legislation but with legislature’s authority,” former additional transport commissioner CLN Gandhi told STOI.
‘Not at the cost of killing state RTCs’: TSRTC joint action committee (JAC) convenor Ashwathama Reddy said the Centre had rolled out the amended MV Act to encourage private operators to improve urban and rural transport, reduce traffic congestion and also provide last-mile connectivity. “But, not at the cost of existing state-run road transport corporations and kill the public sector undertakings,” he observed.
