COVID-19: Buses Operators Seek Exemption From MV Tax Till Sep 30

Hyderabad, April 18 (Maxim News): Telangana State Cabs and Bus Operators Association (TSCBOA) said State Government to exempt contract carriage vehicles and Maxi Cab from payment of Motor Vehicle Tax in the State in view of huge losses being suffered by the operators due to ongoing lockdown.

TSCBOA President Syed Nizamuddin said that all the cabs and bus operators in Telangana have no revenues since March 22 due to total lockdown in view of Coronavirus situation. “Entire tourism industry is at a standstill and it had a catastrophic effect on the bus operators. The situation is not likely to improve in near future even after the end of lockdown on May 3. Therefore, the operators will not be able to meet the expenses including payment of salaries to staff, EMIs and other State levies, Fitness, Permit Fees, Insurance and other Taxes,” he said in a media statement on Sunday.

Nizamuddin said that the operators of contract carriages need an economical boost to revive their businesses and industry. “While we are expecting some relaxations and sops from the Central Government, we are hoping that Government of Telangana would take measures to protect the industry which also generates thousands of direct and indirect jobs,” he said.

He demanded that the State Government exempt the contract carriage vehicles and Maxi Cab from payment of MV Tax. He said some States have already announced such sops for the industry. Citing an instance, he said the Government of Kerala has granted a tax concession of 20% for the tax payable for the quarter commencing from the 1st day of April in respect of the contract carriage. Therefore, he urged the State Government to exempt the contract carriage buses from MV Tax till 30th September, 2020.

Stating that the Hyderabad & Secunderabad Cities Contract Carriage Bus Owners’ Association has already given a representation to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao in this regard, Nizamuddin urged the government to help the industry in this hour of crisis. (Maxim News)