As per the state government’s Unlock 4.0 plan, inter-district travel will be allowed, bringing some respite to private state operators in Maharashtra. But despite this, private bus operators are still going forward with their scheduled September 2 strike.
The private bus owners collective in the state argued at the time that the requirement for e-passes has to be removed to ensure the smooth operation of private buses. Though these restrictions have been lifted as part of Unlock 4.0, the operators’ demands for an extension of the moratorium on loan EMIs until the end of the year as well as the extension of insurance for a period of six months remain unsolved at the moment.
Also Read - Private Bus Operators In Mumbai May Call For A Strike On September 2
“We only have one day to pay the premium before starting the journeys on September 2. Most operators exhausted reserves during lockdown. If we get an extension, we can earn profit and pay our insurance and loans off,” Malik Patel of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghatana said.
The Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghatana will reportedly organize a protest from Pune on September 2 as per sources. This comes as Pune has emerged as one of the biggest COVID-19 hotspots in the country overtaking Mumbai not too long ago.
As the world braces for second and third spikes of the coronavirus, a lot of hopes are currently pinned on the COVID-19 vaccine, particularly the one developed by Serum Insititute of India using Oxford University and AstraZeneca’s research.
Also read - Pune Surpasses Mumbai; Becomes The New COVID-19 Hotspot
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