Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 14: The transport sector is bleeding under the adverse influence of corona-induced lockdown. It has been demanding for road tax exemption from the government but their pleas have gone unheard. The government has only waived tax for two months. The sector was seeking a six month tax holiday and three months tax concession.

Governments in seven states have extended tax concessions to the transport sector to provide the impetus. But the Karnataka government has not shown any interest. When a few organisations fought seeking to meet their demands, the government had convinced them with the assurance that their demands would be met in course of time.

The vehicles have stranded since the last seven to eight months, and many have been taking to the roads with the hope that the government might meet their demands. As star hotels, international buses and tourism have not picked up, taxis are running without customers. The taxi owners rue the fact that if the vehicles are parked, they will develop problems, and if they are run, they have to pay heavy taxes. They are seeking a concession and compensation.

The ministers and government officials need to understand that when the vehicles are run, the government stands to earn by way of taxes on petroleum products. If the automobile and spare parts business have to revive, vehicles have to be run, leaders of organizations feel.

About 4.8 lac owners of stage carriages, contract vehicles, school vehicles, private service vehicles, motor cabs, taxi cabs and other taxis have been waiting hopefully that the much-awaited tax exemption will be announced by the government.