LAHORE, March 17: Accusing the District Regional Transport Authority of pushing it towards an engineered default, the single franchised transport operator in Rawalpindi has served a notice on the Punjab Transport Department for discontinuation of service.

In the notice, the Varan Tours has pointed out that DRTA has been delaying implementation of the basic condition of the franchised agreement pertaining to grant of exclusive right of operation on franchised routes by withdrawing wagons from the routes since its signing in June, 2000.

The DRTA has not withdrawn wagons from these routes even after the franchisee wins the cases filed for the purpose in the high court and the Supreme Court. The National Accountability Bureau is now looking into the matter.

The franchisee has further pointed out that the DRTA is neither withdrawing the wagons plying on the franchised routes nor allowing operation of its buses. The DRTA first delayed withdrawal of over 1,500 wagons and Suzuki vans plying on six routes on the ground that the franchisee should induct all 150 promised buses into service simultaneously.

The franchisee started plying 85 buses on the routes immediately after the signing of agreement in June, 2002, another 30 in June last year and the remaining 35 in October last year in response to the notices issued by the DRTA.

All 65 buses procured by the franchisee last year have been standing idle for the past six to eight months and are not being granted route permits by the DRTA.

The franchisee points out that the DRTA has not allowed it to put its 65 buses into operation despite the orders of the transport secretary issued on Feb 24. The DRTA first agreed to allow the operation of these buses from March 6 and then from March 9 when it withdrew the letter promising issue of route permits to new buses "on the verbal orders of the transport secretary".

The franchisee has informed the transport department that it finds it impossible to continue operation and meet its financial liabilities towards the bank as it is being pushed towards an engineered default by the DRTA which is not allowing it to operate 65 buses.