Imphal, Aug 25 : Buses, taxis and three wheelers have gone off Manipur roads following non availability of petroleum products and controversy over fare. Since April, the oil depots in the state were shut and petroleum products sold on a few occasions owing to the economic blockades by Naga bodies and landslides on NH 39 and NH 53.
The state government had announced that oil depots will now be opened and following the government decision the United Committee Manipur(UCM) had asked passenger vehicles owners' association to fix the fare as was done prior to the agitations by Naga bodies. However, as oil depots were not opened vehicle operators had refused to ply at the old rate.
UCM Information Secretary Kh Nilamani Kha Nganba said the government should fix the passenger fares and as there was no change in the government rate the bus owners could not charge more.
But passenger services remained suspended as the owners complained that they had to buy petrol in the black market at around Rs 80 to Rs 100 per litre.