Nagpur: Despite many irregularities and evasion of taxes by the Starbus operator, the chief minister’s office (CMO) and guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule have intervened to ensure the buses continue functioning so ‘the public commuting in Starbuses is not inconvenienced’.
City RTO had issued a show cause notice to Nagpur Municipal Corporation to pay outstanding passenger tax and malnutrition cess, which comes to Rs7.93 crore, or threatened to stop the city bus service. Mayor Pravin Datke, CMO and guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule were rattled by this. On Monday, City RTO S Shelke’s office received calls from the CMO, directing the transport department office not to stop city bus operations for this reason.
Though NMC was shocked by the RTO ultimatum, city bus operator Vansh Nimay Infraprojects Limited is yet to submit its reply to an NMC notice. Deputy municipal commissioner Sanjay Kakde, who is also manager of NMC’s transport department, said the operator has not filed its say till the evening.
– RAJEEV RANJAN KUSHWAHA(rajeev.nagpurtoday@gmail.com)
