HC bins petitions against TN's new minibus scheme

2,500 permits issued but operation yet to start on 50% routes

- R SIVAKUMAR @Chennai

THE Madras High Court has granted its stamp of 'judicial affirmation' to the scheme rolled out by the Tamil Nadu government to operate minibuses in unserved rural areas, by dismissing all the petitions filed by the private bus operators challenging the scheme, citing technical and procedural issues. Although the transport department has issued over 2,500 route permits for operating minibuses across the state, services have yet to start on more than 50% of these routes.