20 lakh job losses in bus, taxi biz: BOCI

New Delhi

BOCI, which claims to represent 20,000 operators with 15 lakh buses and maxi-cabs and 11 lakh tourist taxis providing direct employment to 1 crore people, said these private operators need government support in the form of waiver of taxes and interest on loans as many of them are facing closure.

“During lockdown 95 pc of our vehicles were off road. Very few buses operated for company contracts, while some were used for transporting migrant labourers,” BOCI President Prasanna Patwardhan said. With no business, the members are struggling to pay salaries and wages to employees, he added. “At least out of the 1 crore people, 30-40 lakh people will lose their jobs, 15-20 lakh people have already lost their jobs. Balance they will also lose their jobs,” Patwardhan said while seeking government support for the private bus and cab operators.

“From September onwards, once the (RBI order on loan) moratorium is over and when operators will not be able to pay their EMIs, that is the time when it is going to hit the hardest,” he added.

Seeking government support, he said, “Our demand is to waive off motor vehicle taxes and give concessions on diesel, while removing toll taxes for inter-city travel.” Since many of the vehicles have been idle in the last three months, he sought insurance policy extension for three months at least.