Action against Volvo buses will hit tourism: Union

Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 2

Dismayed over the move of Transport Minister GS Bali against private luxury buses, Volvo bus operators today expressed their ire against the move and alleged that the state government was trying to harass them, which will have deep impact on tourism sector in the coming days.

Talking to The Tribune here today Volvo Bus Operators Union Manali Lajvanti Devi said that in the past two days so many buses had been impounded, while several stopped for checking at midnight at Mandi and Kangra forcing tourists to stay on roadside along with little children for hours in bone-chilling cold.

“This would adversely impact the tourism sector in Kullu and Manali, which was already on the edge as the state government had failed to make any efforts to boost tourism in the region” she added.

She said that the district was lacking proper air connectivity, railway and other advanced mode of transportation and Volvo bus operators were trying to provide the service. “We are in favor of action against offenders but not like the way it has been done, which will put tourists to a lot of inconvenience. Tourists have complained that many of them missed their flights to the next destination because of delay in the journey as buses were impounded or stopped for hours for checking”, she remarked.

She said despite availability of Volvo buses in the state, the state government had taken buses on lease from outside state.