THE Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) has urged bus owners to apply for short-term operating licences, a measure aimed at easing anticipated pressure on passenger transport as thousands of travellers head to upcountry regions for Christmas and New Year extended festive holidays.

Salum Pazzy, the head of public relations and communications, said in a statement yesterday that LATRA was issuing temporary permits to ensure adequate, safe and reliable transport services during the busiest travel period of the year.

Demand for long-distance and inter-regional travel traditionally spikes during mid-December as families return to home regions, holidaymakers travel for leisure and students head home from schools and colleges, he said.

The temporary licenses are therefore intended to expand fleet capacity on routes where passenger volumes significantly exceed normal levels, with eligible applicants listed as including bus operators with vehicles capable of carrying at least 40 passengers or those with valid special-category bus permits. 

However, strict compliance criteria have been retained to ensure that safety and quality are not compromised despite the seasonal rush, he explained, noting that any bus operator applying for a temporary permit must be fully connected to the vehicle tracking system (VTS), have valid insurance and possess an up-to-date vehicle inspection report (VIR) issued by the police force. Buses lined up for permits must also have a current LATRA operating license, with driver requirements stressed on the need for each driver to have been registered with an approved electronic identification button (i-button).

The buses must be linked to the national e-ticketing system to ensure transparency, proper fare management and monitoring of service delivery during the high-traffic season, he said.

The short-term permits are part of a broader strategy to curb overcrowding, reduce the risk of illegal operators exploiting the festive period travel demand, along with ensuring passengers travel in safe, regulated and properly monitored vehicles, he added.