Kolkata, Nov 9 (IANS) Dispelling rumours of services being hit due to demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, a section of private bus operators in West Bengal on Wednesday clarified that their vehicles are poised to operate at normal capacities in the forthcoming days.
"This is a rumour. So far we have not faced any problems from procuring fuel at petrol stations. We will run at full capacity of around 8000 buses in Kolkata and neighbouring areas (both North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas district)," Tapan Bandyopadhyay, Joint Secretary of Joint Council of Bus Syndicates told IANS.
While there are reports of certain petrol pumps refusing to entertain customers with the abolished currency notes, bus operators have their own networks to ensure steady fuel supply, said Deepak Kanti Sarkar, secretary of Bengal Bus Syndicate.
"Our drivers have an understanding with officials at petrol pumps that they use. Even if we can't pay them today, they will allow us to refuel and give a day to procure the money and pay the next day. So it is not true that demonetisation will affect private bus services. People should not panic," Sarkar told IANS, adding around 4,500 buses under the syndicate ply in Kolkata and Howrah.
