It’s going to be a bad weekend for those who have planned short trips to nearby destinations, as almost 35 per cent of the 12,000 private tourist buses are already off the roads
Bus operators claimed that they are facing a huge loss due to the demonetisation move, as around this time people prefer to go to places like Mahabaleshwar and Goa
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It’s going to be a bad weekend for those who have planned short trips to nearby destinations, as almost 35 per cent of the 12,000 private tourist buses are already off the roads. More are expected to follow as petrol pumps will stop accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from November 12.
The bus associations have written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to allow them use the high value currencies at petrol pumps and toll nakas for a couple of days more. Apparently, many buses are even stuck at the border regions of Maharashtra as the check posts are not accepting high value currencies.
Bus operators claimed that they are facing a huge loss, as around this time people prefer to go to Mahabaleshwar, Goa, Daman and Diu and other tourist spots. But then after the demonetisation decision, several bus drivers could not get petrol for their vehicles due to long queues at pumps. Moreover, as the petrol pumps will stop accepting the high value currencies, it will become more difficult for the bus operators.
“Already 35 per cent of the buses are off the roads and more will follow. More than 5,000 buses are stranded at the state borders, as the drivers do not have Rs 100 notes to pay toll,” said a member of the Maharashtra Bus Malak Sanghatana.
The situation is such that of the total 12,000 private tourist buses, close to 4,000 have already stopped operating. Sources said bus operators are barely making Rs 10,000 per day or even less, which otherwise on a regular day would touch Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
Rs 38,677 cr
Amount deposited in State Bank Of India branches in the last two days
Rs 1,666 cr
Amount exchanged in currency notes at State Bank of India branches
Rs 20 cr
Property tax collected by Pune Municipal Corporation in a day
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