Bus owners warned of legal action

The Public Transport Authority yesterday warned bus owners that legal action would be taken if any drivers do not make use of bus ticketing machines.

The association of bus owners on Tuesday said it had decided that its members will stop using bus ticketing machines from tomorrow, claiming revenue has dropped by Lm160,000 since the machines started being operated four months ago.

The association also warned it would take industrial action next week unless it received about Lm2.5 million in compensation by tomorrow. It claims these are the losses incurred by bus owners over the past five years.

The authority said discussions had taken place at the Finance Ministry so that the subsidies issue would be clarified and that an in-depth exercise has been going on since November 14 to check about the alleged losses of Lm160,000.