Goa, Aug. 19 -- The government's failure to clear pending fuel subsidy dues for nine months has pushed private bus operators to breaking point, with many warning they may be forced to suspend services if payments are not released soon.

Sudip Tamankar, leader of the Goa State Private Bus Owners, said despite repeated assurances, the vast majority of operators have not received their dues. "From Bicholim and Keri, some sanction orders have been issued, but for most others nothing has been done. The government has not given us the money, and the burden on bus owners is becoming unbearable," he said.

Goa has around 1,460 private buses in operation, nearly 950 of them owned by individual operators, the rest by small groups or associations. E...